Members of Congress and Interest Groups Spar Over Proposed Bump During Fragile Economy
WASHINGTON, June 5, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — Press the President is calling on Americans to discuss what minimum wage means in today's world and economy through a blog post or video at www.pressthepresident.com. In 1938, Congress established the first minimum wage law, which was an attempt to assist workers to make ends meet and not be taken advantage of by employers. As we approach the end of the 75th year since the law was enacted, we encourage you to express your opinions about the laws' effectiveness.
This issue remains a huge concern today as workers continue to struggle to get by considering the cost of living. Just last month, McDonalds™ employees held a protest at the corporate headquarters to demand a wage hike to $15/hour minimum wage.
Some Members of Congress have been active in calling for the minimum wage to be boosted at the federal level, as well. Senator Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Representative George Miller (D-CA) have introduced legislation on the issue.
In introducing HR 1010, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013, Miller stated:
Right now, tens of millions of Americans are working hard stocking shelves. They're working the line at a fast food restaurant and cleaning bathrooms in a downtown office building. They work full-time. Some work two or three part-time jobs. They play by the rules. They contribute. Yet, they still live in poverty. It is time to raise the national minimum wage to $10.10.
"Oftentimes when you have the federal government or others step in and start to raise minimum wage, what happens is you take away or reduce some people's opportunity to grab the bottom rung of the economic ladder to get the opportunities and the skills that you need to move up that economic ladder." — Kevin Madden, senior advisor to and spokesman for Mitt Romney's 2012 U.S. presidential campaign, on CNN's State of the Union on December 1st.
Here are a few suggested ways to get involved in the debate on the minimum wage issue:
- Push local leaders
- Get involved in a group
- Join a protest
It took a young Massachusetts woman's courage to help influence President Franklin Roosevelt to take up the minimum wage:
While President Franklin Roosevelt was in Bedford, Mass., campaigning for reelection, a young girl tried to pass him an envelope. But a policeman threw her back into the crowd. Roosevelt told an aide, "Get the note from the girl." Her note read, I wish you could do something to help us girls…We have been working in a sewing factory… and up to a few months ago we were getting our minimum pay of $11 a week… Today the 200 of us girls have been cut down to $4 and $5 and $6 a week. To a reporter's question, the President replied, "Something has to be done about the elimination of child labor and long hours and starvation wages."
To comment or post a video on the minimum wage issue, please visit our website and submit at PressthePresident.com, tweet @PTP_US or post on our Facebook wall.
About Press the President:
Press the President is a worldwide forum for unfiltered debate about U.S. issues that affect the globe. The site's founders have created a space where writers can express their opinions freely. Americans are often criticized as not having enough of a political voice. Press the President provides a platform for people who want to make their voices heard from the White House to Main Street. Online visitors can share their views at www.pressthepresident.com or visit our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/ptp.us to join in our weekly debates.
Contact:
Kipp Lanham
202-449-9807