Obama announced his own limited move, an executive order to raise by nearly 40 percent the $7.25-an-hour base wage for a few million federal contract workers/FILE
Frustrated by legislator inaction on the issue over the past year, Obama announced his own limited move, an executive order to raise by nearly 40 percent the $7.25-an-hour base wage for a few million federal contract workers.
But Obama said Congress also needed to move to increase the national minimum to help working American families pull out of grinding poverty.
“Say yes. Give America a raise. Give them a raise!” Obama told Congress in his State of the Union speech.
Obama pointed out that the $7.25 national minimum is effectively 20 percent lower than the minimum of a quarter-century ago, when Republican president Ronald Reagan was in office.
He urged the legislature to support a bill already submitted that would hike the national rate to $10.10.
“This will help families. It will give businesses customers with more money to spend,” he said.
Obama lauded five states which in the past year have increased their own floor wage rates, and praised companies that pay more than they have to.
“Profitable corporations like Costco see higher wages as the smart way to boost productivity and reduce turnover. We should too.”
The push for higher wages comes as the slow recovery from the 2008 to 2009 economic crisis sees wealthy Americans earning more than ever but real wages for others still below where they were.
With their eye toward Congressional elections in November this year, Democrats are pressing the issue of income inequality in hopes of gaining the upper hand over rival Republicans.
Obama stressed that most people accept that some will earn more than others.
But he added: “Americans overwhelmingly agree that no one who works full time should ever have to raise a family in poverty.”
He announced he would soon issue an executive order requiring government contractors to pay their workers at least $10.10 an hour, skirting the need for Congressional approval.
That would potentially boost the incomes of hundreds of thousands of workers cleaning government buildings or working low-skilled jobs on military bases.
“Because if you cook our troops’ meals or wash their dishes, you shouldn’t have to live in poverty,” he said.
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