Thomas Daschle: “It has now been over 6 years since Congress voted to increase the minimum wage. In that time, the cost of living has…”

“It has now been over 6 years since Congress voted to increase the minimum wage. In that time, the cost of living has increased 12 percent while the real value of the minimum wage has steadily declined. In fact, by 2003, all of the gain achieved through the last increase will have been wiped out. Today, minimum wage employees working 40 hours a week 52 weeks a year earn only $10,700--more than $4,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. In the last 6 years, the purchasing power of the minimum wage has deteriorated to near record low levels. Teacher's aides and health care workers are among the hard-working Americans who are unable to make ends meet on a $5.15 per hour wage. In fact, the current minimum wage does not provide enough income to allow full-time workers to afford adequate housing in any area of the country.”