NEW MINIMUM WAGE STILL LOWER THAN IN 1956 AT PERCENT OF AVERAGE WAGE

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DERRICK Z. JACKSON, BOSTON GLOBE - The Democratic presidential
candidates were asked in the CNN/YouTube debate if they were willing to
work in the White House for the national minimum wage. Senators
Christopher Dodd and Joe Biden said no.

Dodd whined, "I have two young daughters who I'm trying to educate. . .
. I don't think I could live on the minimum wage." Biden moaned, "My net
worth is $70,000 to $150,000. That's what happens you get elected at 29.
I couldn't afford to stay in the Congress for the minimum wage. But if I
get a second job, I'd do it."

If Dodd, first elected to the Senate 27 years ago, and Biden, first
elected to the Senate 35 years ago, say they cannot work for four years
at the minimum wage, that is a huge hint to the minimal meaning in this
week's raise from $5.15 to $5.85. It was frozen in place by Congress for
a decade. It will go to $6.55 next summer and to $7.25 the summer after
that.

But it will remain far short of the real value it had a half- century
ago. In 1956, according to the Economic Policy Institute, the minimum
wage was 56 percent of the national average wage. The value shriveled to
31 percent last year. But EPI analyst Liana Fox said that even with the
increases, she projects the $7.25 will be only 41 percent of the
national average wage of $17.86.

http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/
articles/2007/07/28/an_unlivable_minimum/


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