Federal Govt. trails 23 states and the District of Columbia on minimum wage

[marmar]

from the Economic Policy Institute:



Federal government trails 23 states on minimum wage


by Mary Gable

Last year, the federal government strengthened its commitment to workers by increasing the minimum wage. This multi-stage federal minimum rate hike occurred, in large part, because inflation had eroded the value of the 1997 federal increase—leading to a tide of minimum wage increases across the states. On July 24, the federal minimum wage increases from $5.85 per hour to $6.55, but it will remain below the minimum rate in 23 states and the District of Columbia (see Map below). At the new federal level, a full-time, minimum-wage worker earns below the poverty line for a household of two. Even when it sees its final legislated increase to $7.25 next summer, the federal minimum wage will be below the minimum rate in at least 11 states and the District of Columbia. This reflects a stark reality in America: in the face of the rising cost of living for low-wage workers, the federal government is not guaranteeing a fair wage.

http://www.epi.org/content.cfm/webfeatures_snapshots_20080723


There's a map when you click the link, but the states are:

Maine
Vermont
Mass.
Connecticut
Rhode Island
New York
New Jersey
Pennsylvania
Delaware
D.C.
Ohio
Michigan
Illinois
Iowa
Missouri
Colorado
Arizona
Nevada
Oregon
Washington
California
Florida
Hawaii
Alaska