An incredible 58 percent of the gains from the most recent minimum wage increase went to working families at the bottom 40 percent of the income scale. Minimum wage increases don't hurt businesses or the economy. Opponents to the minimum wage increase claim that giving 9.9 million Americans a pay raise is bad for small business and will stifle a growing economy. But actual experience suggests the opposite. The economy remains stronger than ever, with some of the most impressive job growth in years.
Unemployment remains at all-time lows.
To help small business, we are considering a package of tax reductions so that employers are not left out in the cold as we strive to lift up the working poor. This is a real test for Congressional leadership. If they continue to oppose the minimum wage increase , they will prove once again that they are out of touch with the real challenges faced by many working families in Texas and the United States. Americans earning the minimum wage deserve a raise, and that's the bottom line. An extra dollar is a small price to pay for keeping the working poor above the poverty level and off the welfare roles.