Raising the minimum wage | Loganthejournalist

Raising the Minimum Wage for Millions There has been a lot of debate recently over President Obama making an executive order that requires all new federally contracted companies to pay their employees a minimum wage of $10.10 per hour. He announced it in January 2014 at the annual State of the Union Address.

Much of the controversy has come because there is now debate and discussion as to if the minimum wage needs to be raised nationally to help people meet their basic needs. Those in favor of the raise say that it would provide consumers with more money which would allow them to purchase more and increase the growth rate of the U.S. and the global economy.

The Washington D.C. council has unanimously endorsed raising the districts minimum wage to $11.50 an hour. If this new minimum wage is approved in the final round of voting D.C. will have the highest minimum wage in the United States.

Opponents of the minimum wage raise say that the wage increase could lead to large inflation and would hurt small business owners the most. They say that small business owners will have to lay off workers to compensate for the higher wages they require, and that this will push the unemployment rate up.

The one aspect of the minimum wage increase that both its’ Democratic supporters and Republican opponents agree on is that they believe that the increase is popular with the majority of Americans. Democrats are even adding it to their party platform for the next upcoming elections.

If you support or oppose the minimum wage raise contacting your local representative is the best thing you can do to have influence over if it goes into effect or not. You can write a letter, send an e-mail, visit in person, or call your local Congressional representative to show your support or opposition to the wage increase.

Below is a link that will tell you who your local representative is and give you more information on the debate over raising the minimum wage.