Eva M. Clayton: “between 1979 and 1992 the number of working poor in America increased by 44 percent. Some may not care about that--I do.…”

“between 1979 and 1992 the number of working poor in America increased by 44 percent. Some may not care about that--I do. I care that millions of our fellow citizens are holding down jobs, while sliding into poverty. It's not fair. We can begin to correct some of that unfairness by increasing the minimum wage. I also care about this Nation's small businesses--the backbone of our economy. I would not promote a policy to help the working poor if it was shown that such a policy would substantially hurt small businesses. Sometimes we are given false choices--employees with livable wages can be helpful to small businesses' profits. According to the best evidence I have seen, a modest increase in the minimum wage will help the working poor, without hurting small businesses substantially or over a period of time. Not long ago, the New York Times told the story of a town in my state of North Carolina and that town's experience the last time the minimum wage was raised. Jacksonville is located in Eastern North Carolina, just outside of my congressional district. The civilian population of Jacksonville is 80,000, but it is also home to 40,000 marines at Camp Lejeune. When the marines went to the Persian gulf war in 1990 and 1991, the economy of Jacksonville suffered--small businesses were hurt. But, according to the New York Times, when the minimum wage was last raised--for the first time in two decades--in 1991, the economy of Jacksonville did not suffer.…”