Some facts about minimum wage

Since raising the federal minimum wage is more than likely to be a hot topic in Congress during the current session which began yesterday, I thought I'd post some interesting (and disturbing) facts about the minimum wage in this country. I received this in my email this morning from MoveOn.org:

- In the decade since the min wage was last raised, (the longest stall in history) Congress has increased it's own pay by $31,600 dollars.

- A full time min wage worker earns just $10,712 a year, less than half the poverty rate for a family of four.

- Raising the min wage would help approximately 13 million wage earners and their families.

- Real world studies have consistently found that cities and states with higher minimum wages generally retain or even increase employment levels.

- 86% of small business owners report raising the minimum wage would not effect them.

- The average CEO makes 821 times the average min wage worker.

So much for that "we'll run small business' into the ground" argument from the Republicans. Although in the face of truth, I expect them to do what they've always done: IGNORE IT. I don't doubt at all that they'll continue to cite the same ridiculous argument, even though it's been disproved. I challenge George Bush to veto a federal minimum wage increase if when the 110th Congress sends it to his desk.