Increased minimum wage now law; 139,000 affected

[citizen snips]

About 139,000 North Carolinians will get an automatic raise Jan. 1.

Flanked by legislators, Gov. Mike Easley on Thursday signed into law a $1 increase in the state minimum wage.

The law boosts the minimum wage to $6.15 per hour, effective next year.

more...
http://www.newsobserver.com/644/story/460337.html

[NCarolinawoman]

1. Well, every little bit counts.

I have a friend who is now working at BoJangles (did I spell that right?). He hates the job, considers it temporary, but he is very happy about this. He says that is will help him buy a little more gas so he can get to work.

[citizen snips]

2. The cost of living is going up

I think this raise is good for people who live on minimum wage.

[bwoody1]

3. It's good...

But even so, how can a person survive off such little money? Seems more like a political move in an election year as opposed to an act of compassion (particularly given Easley's reference to Washington).

[citizen snips]

4. welcome to DU

the federal minimum wage has not been raised in 9 years and it's about time they raised it. Easley was right to criticize washington.

[bwoody1]

5. Thanks for the Welcome

Yes, sometimes being politically expedient can also be right. Perhaps Easley's meager increase in the minimum wage will help offset the dollars being spent on the "Education Lottery" by the very poorest of our State. To me, Easley comes off as a bit of a hippocrite...patting himself on the back for raising the minimum wage, while assessing a regressive tax via the lottery.

http://www.news-record.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060411/NEWSREC0101/60411016/-1/NEWSRECRSSGNRL