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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Visionaries:</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">I cannot resist the urge to weigh
in on the minimum wage issue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
proposed legislation during the most recent legislative session to raise the
minimum wage to $6.15.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It received
very little support from Republicans.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>(Our District 6 Republicans did support it, and Representative Trail will
co-sponsor the effort with us again next year.)</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">We plan to try again next year,
at an amount above $6.15.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Without getting into the usual
arguments, it’s unacceptable to have a minimum wage that leaves those paid at
that level in cruel poverty.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Lawmakers have neglected maintenance on minimum wage levels.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In 1968, the minimum wage meant
something positive to families.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In
inflation-adjusted dollars, it has lost nearly 40% of its value between 1968 and
now.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">According to polling, the vast
majority of Americans believe the minimum wage should be higher.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I believe eighteen states have a minimum
wage higher than the $5.15 federal level, which has not been raised since
1997.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Some of these states have
used the initiative process to get results, where state legislators would not
act on it.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In some of these states,
there has been significant help from Republican leaders.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Many claims of negative
consequences do not seem to be true.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>One of the claims is that jobs will be lost.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>In the majority of states that have
raised the minimum wage, there has in fact been an increase in jobs.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We can’t claim the wage increase caused
more jobs, but the decrease some predicted didn’t happen.)<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>An increase in employee productivity and
less absenteeism was reported where the pay level increased.</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">On the inflation issue,
<?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"
/><st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Florida</st1:place></st1:State>
reported after raising their minimum wage a very minor increase in some
prices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Since a relatively small
percent of the employed receive minimum wage, one might not expect a dramatic
increase in prices.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(We can expect
a “ripple effect” though, where employers will raise wages to be more
competitive.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>One year ago in
<st1:State w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Idaho</st1:place></st1:State>,
according to the Department of Commerce and Labor, 32,000 Idahoans received a
wage between $5.15 and $6.15 per hour.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>While Idaho State Government employee pay is entirely too low, almost
none of them receive pay as low as $5.15 per hour.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I don’t consider it an undisputed fact
that there will be significant inflation, but we can certainly study the issue
in the states that have raised the minimum wage. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Workers who receive minimum wage
live from paycheck to paycheck.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>(If
they can make it stretch.)<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>They
have no discretionary money.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>What
are they to do when their taxes go up?<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Just more water in the gravy, I guess.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>At the minimum wage, it takes more than
one full day to earn the money to buy fifteen gallons of gasoline. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">While I continue to study the
issue, I am convinced that some of the negative consequences of raising the
minimum wage are over-stated.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I am
also steadfast in my belief that it is unacceptable to value people and families
so little that we allow such a low level of compensation for their efforts and
to address their needs. </P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt">Shirley</P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><o:p> </o:p></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>