The federal minimum wage has been $7.25 an hour since 2009.
Which many say has not kept up with rising prices over the past 13 years.
States are free to set a higher minimum wage, but, with some exceptions such as workers who are traditionally tipped by customers, cannot set a lower minimum. Some states have set their own minimum wage significantly higher. Others, like Texas, keep to Housing costs, from buying to renting, have increased significantly since the federal minimum wage was set. And now with rising inflation it's becoming even harder for those making at or near the federal minimum to make ends meet. Indeed, the Economic Policy Institute estimates the federal minimum wage is worth 27% less in terms of buying power than it was when set in 2009.
This has prompted calls from many Democrats for Congress to raise the federal minimum wage. Republicans, for the most part, remain opposed, fearing an increase will hurt already struggling small businesses.
We want to know what you think. Is it time for Congress to raise the federal minimum wage? Or should the federal minimum wage remain the same?
Send your response (50 words maximum) to [email protected] by Wednesday, August 10. You can also mail your response to the Texarkana Gazette Friday Poll, at P.O. Box 621, Texarkana, TX 75504 or drop it off at our office, 101 E. Broad St, Texarkana, Ark. Be sure to include your name, address and phone number. We will print as many responses as we can in next Friday's paper.
Last Week: Cutting Back?
Last week's question was about spending during the and current inflation. Have you cut down on luxuries or reduced overall spending because of inflation? Are you relying more on credit cards to buy what you want or just make ends meet? If you are using credit cards more, are you concerned about making the payments should a recession happen?
From facebook.com/texarkanagazette
- Only charge what I can pay off. BTW - A recession has already happened.
- Don't have credit cards & won't have any.
- With interest rates so high l just keep one for emergency use only and if l want to purchase l keep it so l can pay it off in one payment and not each month
- Are we in a recession? People are working, making money and they choose to spend it. I think people hear RECESSION repeated over and over and over and over til they will believe it. From what I see people are choosing to keep on going even with high gas prices. They sure ain't staying at home And they are still buying what they want
- Well I look more at buying store brands which have a money back promise.
- Yes, yes, yes. Any more questions?