MINIMUM WAGE AND WOMEN: REPUBLICANS NICKEL AND DIME WOMEN WORKERS

According to the Center for Economic and Policy Research, women are twice as likely as men to be minimum wage earners. Minimum wage is now at its lowest level in 50 years making it nearly impossible for minimum wage working women to pay for basic necessities. It would take a full day's pay at minimum wage to pay for one tank of gas, and most minimum wage workers are the major breadwinners within their families. [House Education and Workforce Committee]

Every day millions of American women work hard and play by the rules to try to ensure a better life for their families. The shameful reality is providing the basics on a minimum wage that amounts to $10,700 a year, struggling to make ends meet while health care costs, child care costs and gas prices continue to increase. Women minimum wage workers deserve a decent wage they can live on, and the fact is that today's minimum wage is indecent.

A non-partisan survey, showing that 77 percent of Americans believe raising the minimum wage should be a priority, provides further proof that Republicans are out of touch with the values and priorities of a majority of Americans. [EPI]

Our choices reflect our values and, once again, Republicans actions have shown that their actions do not value all Americans.