Eva M. Clayton: “Every person who works desires to earn a livable wage. That is the reason for working. That is not true today. Some 12…”

“Every person who works desires to earn a livable wage. That is the reason for working. That is not true today. Some 12 million workers earn a mere minimum wage. What is a minimum wage? A minimum wage is the least, the lowest, the smallest wage possible-- a minimal wage. It is not a wage that reflects the cost of living. It is a wage that the law allows an employer to pay, without regard to the cost of basics--food, clothing, and shelter. A worker can work very hard and be productive--40 hours a week--and his boss is only required to pay the least, the lowest, the smallest possible wage--a minimal wage. Mr. Speaker, is it fair to allow employers to pay a wage that is 50 cents less in value than it was when the wage was set 5 years ago? That is a 40-year low. The price of living has steadily risen, while the pay for working has steadily fallen. The proposal to increase wages to make them more livable is a constrained proposal. The increase would be a barely significant 90-cents per hour--in two installments of 45 cents each, over 2 years--raising the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.15. Yet, while the 90-cent increase is barely significant when compared to wage and income increases among managers, politicians, and other professionals--it is an increase that could make life livable for millions of Americans. A 90-cent raise in pay for minimum-wage workers would add $1,800 in additional income over a year.”