Max Baucus: “this one is real simple. If you raise the minimum wage, you provide working people with a higher salary and a better…”

“this one is real simple. If you raise the minimum wage, you provide working people with a higher salary and a better standard of living. And so I come here in very strong support for the minority leader's effort to give working people a raise by increasing the minimum wage. BUTTE SAFEWAY Over the years, Butte, MT, has seen more than its share of hard times. When the mines closed, a lot of people said it was curtains for Butte. But those people had obviously not spent much time in Butte. Through a lot of hard work, resourcefulness, and community spirit, the folks in Butte fought to rebuild their economy. And they did it. The economic success story that is Butte today is a great example of what can happen when people come together, play by the rules, and work hard. A few weeks ago, I was in Butte. I spent some time at the Safeway store just listening to people. And I was struck by what a young woman named Rhonda had to say. She was in her early 20's; friendly, energetic, and bright. And like most people that age, she was also anxious to build a better future for herself. But she told me, ``Max, I am having a hard time making ends meet on minimum wage. I work hard, but it's just not enough.'' A whole lot of Montanans feel just the same. They see their wages increasing too slowly to keep up with the cost of living. They find it harder and harder to save money to send their children to college.”