Why 18 Florida lawmakers plan to live on $17 a day

[jpak]

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2015/0928/Why-18-Florida-lawmakers-plan-to-live-on-17-a-day

Eighteen Florida lawmakers plan to live on $17 a day this week to draw attention to legislators’ efforts to increase the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour.

The daily budget represents a minimum wage worker’s typical take-home pay after taxes, childcare, and housing are deducted from an $8.05-an-hour paycheck – the current minimum wage in the state of Florida, a rate somewhat higher than the federally-mandated minimum of $7.25.

Florida Democrats filed legislation to more than double the state's minimum wage to $15 an hour, a move the Republican-controlled legislature dismisses as a “pass-along cost consumers would have to bear in the form of higher prices on goods and services,” Bay News 9 reports. Sunshine State Republicans also say it could discourage businesses from moving to Florida.

The lawmakers – mostly Democrats – taking part in the publicity stunt will also go grocery shopping with a minimum-wage worker at the start of the week.

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[KamaAina]

1. "mostly Democrats"?

Are there any independents? 'Cause I can hardly imagine any repukes doing this!

[onethatcares]

2. whoa, this is Floriduh we're talking about

there are no independents here

[spanone]

3. 'publicity stunt'? well, whatever it takes....