Rep. Ron Kind Calls on Governor Walker to Raise the Minimum Wage in Wisconsin

Press Release

U.S. Rep. Ron Kind (D-WI) is calling on Governor Scott Walker to use the power granted to his office to raise the minimum wage in Wisconsin. Following the formal receipt of petitions from Wisconsinites affected by the low minimum wage, the deadline for the Governor to act is today.

"People who work full time shouldn't have to live in poverty," said Rep. Kind. "And we're not just talking about entry-level jobs or jobs for students. Too many Wisconsin families are struggling to get by on the current minimum wage, and Gov. Walker has the ability to immediately step in and give these working families a hand. He's waited long enough -- the time for action is now."

Wisconsin's governor, unlike those in many other states, has the ability to raise the minimum wage according to state statute. Gov. Walker has received petitions from Wisconsin residents who have been struggling to make ends meet while earning the minimum wage, giving him the ability to take immediate action on their behalf.

"The law is clear: every worker in our state should earn a living wage. The current minimum wage clearly falls short of that, and every day that Gov. Walker refuses to act puts working families further behind," concluded Rep. Kind.

A worker making $7.25 an hour (the federal minimum wage since 2009) earns $15,080 annually. Nationally,the average minimum wage worker is 35 years old and responsible for half of their family's total income. Fully 75% of minimum wage earners are adults trying to make ends meet.

Earlier this year, Rep. Kind petitioned Speaker Boehner to allow a vote on increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 over the next two years.

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