A vote has been scheduled in the House of Representatives on March 9 th to increase the minimum wage. Ask them to oppose accompanying large tax cuts which are directed toward people or corporations with higher incomes and profits. Ask them to support only those tax cuts targeted at helping small businesses adjust to the cost of increased wages. It will be combined with an unjustifiably large tax cut package mainly benefiting those at upper income levels. The current vibrant economy has benefited a significant number of families.
Childhood poverty is down.
But, unfortunately, the depth of poverty has increased among those struggling at the bottom of the economic ladder. Work at low wages has not necessarily made children in families better off economically. The cost of food, housing, childcare, and transportation is likely to more than equal their income. An increase in the minimum wage, particularly if accompanied later by expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, would make a significant difference in helping the neediest workers in our society provide for their families. Studies have shown that a minimum wage increase would have a significant positive impact on families where the head of household was moving from welfare to work.