Raising The Minimum Wage

Raising the Minimum Wage: A Necessary Step Toward Economic Justice

Over 38 million Americans currently live below the poverty line—many of them working full-time jobs. That’s not because they’re not working hard enough. It’s because our economy is built on outdated rules that favor corporate profits over people.

The federal minimum wage has been stuck at $7.25 an hour since 2009. In that time, the cost of housing, food, health care, and education has soared—yet wages haven’t kept up. If the minimum wage had tracked with worker productivity over the past few decades, it would be over $20 an hour today.

Instead, we have millions of Americans doing essential work—serving food, caring for children and seniors, stocking shelves—who still can't afford basic necessities.

Here's What I Support:

  • Raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, and index it to inflation so it keeps pace with the real cost of living.

  • Eliminate the sub-minimum wage for tipped workers, people with disabilities, and youth labor—because all workers deserve equal protections.

  • Provide transition support for small businesses while ensuring that large corporations pay their fair share.

  • Close loopholes that allow gig platforms and major employers to misclassify workers and dodge minimum wage laws.

Why This Matters:

  • A worker earning $7.25/hour full-time makes just $15,080 a year—far below the poverty line.

  • Over 60% of minimum wage workers are women, and disproportionately people of color.

  • In no U.S. state can a minimum wage worker afford a one-bedroom apartment without spending more than 30% of their income on rent.

    This isn’t just bad for workers—it’s bad for our economy. When people can’t afford to live, they can’t afford to spend, save, or invest in their futures.

Raising Wages Helps Everyone

Study after study shows that raising the minimum wage:

  • Boosts consumer spending, which drives economic growth.

  • Reduces reliance on public assistance, saving billions in taxpayer dollars.

  • Improves employee retention and productivity.

  • Strengthens families and communities.

    The simple truth is: people who work for a living should be able to live off their wages. It’s time we built an economy that reflects that.