Posted in Random ramblings

One of the amendments those of us in CO will be voting on this fall involves the minimum wage.  It puts an increase in the constitution and requires future increases tied to inflation.  I'm strongly opposed to this idea and so I decided to write a letter to the editor of our paper.  It was published!!  Here is the text of my letter for anyone who cares:

As a member of the "working poor" I would urge everyone to vote no on Amendment 42, the effort to raise the minimum wage. My family was living on minimum wage when the last increase was passed. Immediately my husband's work hours were cut and soon thereafter he lost his job and had great difficulty finding another one. Additionally, the cost of items we purchased went up to reflect the higher cost of workers.

Raising the minimum wage didn't help us then and it will hurt us now. Raising the minimum wage doesn't solve the root problems of families in poverty. It also radically devalues the wages of those, like us, who are slowly scraping their way up the wage ladder. Those who have gained raises and make just slightly more than minimum wage will, essentially, receive pay cuts if Amendment 42 is passed.

There are things that can help the working poor. They take real effort and small financial investments. Things like increasing financial aid programs, assisted housing and GED programs can help give workers the skills to earn better wages. That's real help, not a feel-good proposal designed to make politicians look good. Please vote against Amendment 42 and let's work for real solutions to poverty.