Walker administration declares 7.25 a living wage

[frigidmagi]

JSonline

Gov. Scott Walker's administration has denied a complaint by a labor group seeking to force an increase in Wisconsin's minimum wage.

The liberal Wisconsin Jobs Now and 100 workers had sought to use a little-known clause in state law to raise the state minimum wage of $7.25 an hour or at least force Walker, a Republican, to publicly oppose such a move just a month before the Nov. 4 election.

Mary Burke, Walker's Democratic opponent, favors an increase.

The state law requires that Wisconsin's minimum wage "shall not be less than a living wage."

A living wage is defined under the law as "reasonable comfort, reasonable physical well-being, decency and moral well-being." But the governor's administration is also allowed to consider the effect that increasing the minimum wage would have on the overall state economy and on the availability of entry-level jobs.

At a Capitol news conference last month, workers called on Walker's labor department to investigate and determine that the living wage in the state should be set higher. The state Department of Workforce Development said it considered those factors as well as others, such as that some of the complainants make more than minimum wage, receive public aid and brought up items beyond their basic needs.

"The department has determined that there is no reasonable cause to believe that the wages paid to the complainants are not a living wage," Robert Rodriguez, administrator of DWD's Equal Rights Division, wrote in the denial letter.

That drew an immediate rebuke from Wisconsin Jobs Now.

Walker's "political stance against raising minimum wage is one thing. But for the governor to brazenly say to the working families of Wisconsin that $7.25 an hour is enough to sustain themselves is not only misguided, it is incredibly ignorant and willfully obtuse," the group said in a statement.

Walker spokeswoman Laurel Patrick referred questions Tuesday to the Department of Workforce Development. At the time of the complaint, she said that Walker wanted jobs for state residents that pay "two or three times the minimum wage."

"He is focused on finding ways to help employers create jobs that pay far more than the minimum wage or any other proposed minimum," Patrick said at the time.

Walker and other Republicans say they oppose raising the minimum wage because many workers receiving it are teenagers and because increasing it would cause employers to eliminate jobs.

Just a reminder, according to a study shown in USA today, you need to work 81 hours a week on minimum wage to afford the rent for a 2 bedroom apartment That's not counting food or utilities, that's just rent. I will leave it to the reader to decide if that is a livable wage.

[rhoenix]

"Walker and other Republicans say they oppose raising the minimum wage because many workers receiving it are teenagers and because increasing it would cause employers to eliminate jobs."

That's a canard I've read and heard more than once, and it comes off as very disconnected to me. Rephrased, it would be "why shouldn't entry-level workers be paid less than a living wage? the economy depends on those workers being paid as low as they are now to function."

If that's truly the case, it raises some very awkward questions about how our economy actually functions, since this is serf-and-lord level nonsense right here.

[LadyTevar]

Did you see how many of the States had a higher Minimum Wage than the Federal, and yet STILL were looking at 80+hrs a week to afford a two-bedroom rental unit? Even here in WV, 71hrs a week at Minimum Wage to afford most rentals.

[Lys]

The numbers I got on minumum wage workers is that only one fourth are teenagers, another fourth are 20-24 years old, and one half are 25 or older. Raising the minimum wage will predominantly affect adults, to claim otherwise is bullshit.

[B4UTRUST]

Oh come on guys. We all know that things like heat, food and water are luxuries, not necessities. You've got a 1bd loft shared with two other people, don't you? What the else do you want, you greedy bastards?

[frigidmagi]

Are you sure you want me to answer that question B4?

Anywho it's stuff like this that reminds me of how insanely lucky my more or less cheating ass is. Yes, I have to share a house with 3 other people, but there's still plenty of space and the reduced cost of living speaks for itself.

[B4UTRUST]

I wasn't serious, Frigid. It was more a comment on Walker's stupidity about the cost of living. I've got two roommates myself anymore so I'm right there with you. Three if you count my fiancee.

[LadyTevar]

The $7.25 wasn't a living wage when it came out in the 1990s. I know, I was trying to rent an apartment with friends while working part-time. It Is Bunk.

Right now, I would be making $9.25/hr, which would Just Barely cover my rent and bills.