Must Read: Democrats' Minimum Wage Increase Benefits African Americans

According to a Reuters article today, proposed increases in the minimum wage, such as those passed by Democrats in the House of Representatives, would result in a raise for nearly 2 million African American workers. Recently, Democrats in the House and Senate voted to raise the minimum wage for the first time in nearly a decade. Despite overwhelming public support for the increase, Republicans in the Senate have blocked its passage, demanding that it be tied to tax cuts.

Minimum wage hike would help blacks: study
Jan 26, 2007
By Ed Stoddard
Reuters

"Proposed increases in the U.S. minimum wage would likely result in pay raises for around 2 million black workers, according to a study released this week by the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies. The Democratic-led U.S. House of Representatives earlier this month approved legislation to increase the minimum wage over two years to $7.25 per hour from $5.15 per hour -- which would be its first hike in a decade.

"But Senate Republicans on Wednesday blocked the bill, demanding it also include small business tax relief. The Senate was set to debate the bill again on Friday with passage of a wage hike-tax break measure expected next week. The Senate and House would then have to negotiate a final version.

"Our analysis shows that this increase in the minimum wage would have a significant positive impact on African American families and communities," said Ralph Everett, president and CEO of the Joint Center, a Washington-based think tank. "African Americans are more likely to live in states that either have no minimum wage or have minimums equal to the federal rate, and so they would certainly benefit from a new law raising the floor," he said..."

To read the entire article visit: click here