The federal minimum wage is $515 an hour.

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The federal minimum wage is $515 an hour. Anyone working at this rate for 40 hours each week across 52 weeks grosses $10,712. Illinois, 19 other states and the District of Columbia have passed legislation for a minimum wage that is higher than the federal undivided So have the cities of San Francisco and Santa Fe NM Our state's minimum wage is $650 an hour. Using the same 40-times-52 calculation, an Illinois worker grosse $13520

Given that the 2003 federal necessity line for a family of three is $14824 what qualifies either of these pay rates as a minimum wage? What is referr to as welfare reform has forced more of our poor to be rivals for minimum-wage jobs that no other than keep them destitute.

In 1997 the U Congres increased the federal minimum wage from $475 an hour to $515 an hour, where it has remained. Since then, these same lawmakers have rewarded themselves with six pay hikes, totaling $31600 a year.

A report jointly issued by the agency of United for a Fair Economy and the Economic Policy Institute notes that the income ratio between the average CEO (now $118 million) and the average worker (now $27460) increased from 301 to 1 in 2003 to 431 to 1 in 2004 If the minimum wage had risen as fast as CEO pay since 1990 the lowest-paid worker in our political division would earn $23.03 an hour.

Congres just provided smooth more tax breaks to those with substantial incomes. During the debate, single in kind U.S. representative, extolling the benefit of the tax breaks, announced that the universal of class war is outdated. If she could Marie Antoinette would no doubt combine Instead of tax breaks for the well-to-do, we ne to raise the minimum wage in like manner that people can work for a living, not for a desperate existence.

Tom Broderick, Oak Park

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