Minimum Wage
Kansas working families deserve a raise
House Democrats have always been committed to Kansas working families and lead the fight for higher wage standards across the state. In 2008, House Democrats attempted to give Kansas workers a raise by increasing the state's minimum wage to $5.85 per hour. Currently, Kansas minimum wage is the lowest in the country at $2.65 per hour. That is more than $3.00 per hour lower than the federal minimum wage. The last increase to Kansas minimum occurred in 1988, 20 years ago.
The proposal called for an increase in Kansas' minimum wage to $5.85 in 2008, $6.55 in 2009 and $7.25 in 2010. The increase would have helped 19,000 workers who currently work for $2.65 an hour. Unfortunately, House Republicans refused to help working families by addressing this issue. Using legislative rules, House Republicans sent one minimum wage bill back to committee and skipped over another. This move prevented a full debate and vote. It was sent back to committee by a partisan vote of 63-58.
This is a matter of respect for honest work and the people who do it. Sending the amendment back to committee was an embarrassing attempt for House Republicans to hide from Kansas workers in need of a raise. The costs of living for an average Kansas family have skyrocketed. Since 1988, rent is up 58 percent, a gallon of milk has increased by 32 percent and gasoline is at record highs.
House Democrats remain committed to Kansas working families and will continue to fight for opportunities to raise Kansas' wage standards in 2009.
