By J. Lyn Carl, GalleryWatch.com
Austin, TX –
"It's wrong that people work a 40 hour work week and live below the poverty level," said Rep. Lon Burnam (D-Fort Worth) as he announced legislation today (HB 816) that would raise Texas' minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $6.15 per hour.
Noting that Texas is one of the largest minimum wage and low wage states in the country, Burnam said increasing the minimum wage by one dollar is "just one step" in trying to break the cycle of poverty in Texas. He noted that most of his constituents are working for or near minimum wage, and have households with two to three minimum wage jobs "to just stay afloat." He said the minimum wage has not increased in seven years, which is the longest stretch of "government inaction" since the minimum wage was enacted in the 1930's.
The Fort Worth Democrat said many of his constituents have suffered pay decreases in recent years. "Texas has been nowhere," he said. "Texas has been AWOL in addressing this problem."
Burnam said there is a general misconception that most who have minimum wage jobs are teenagers. He cited figures that note that 40 percent of minimum wage earners are the sole breadwinners in their families and 87 percent of them are age 20 years and older. He also said 58 percent are part of working households that are in the bottom 40 percent of the income scale.
"We're talking about economic justice," said Burnam, in noting that family values and morality issues are not the only concerns the state should be addressing.
Bee Morehead of Texas Impact said it is important to conceptualize the minimum wage with recent social services cuts. She said if the state expects people to be self-sufficient and at the same time reduce social services, working families must have that chance, and a living wage is the right step in that direction.
Others at the press conference today who spoke in favor of increasing the minimum wage were members of faith-based organizations. A representative of a Catholic-based organization said workers have rights and responsibilities and one of those rights is "an adequate income for work rendered."
Susie Painter of the Baptist General Convention said many families are attempting to keep their family together with two or three minimum wage jobs, and said "meaningful wages" are needed for working people. "It's a needed step, a timely step that keeps them moving forward," she said. Painter cited an "overwhelming" number of students taking GED and ESL classes in an attempt to "get above minimum wage in Texas."
Officials of MALDEF and LULAC said a steady income is critical to citizen involvement. One noted that as the welfare safety net continues to diminish, access to a livable wage and the opportunity to be self-sufficient are of increased importance, particularly for low-income families. "Texans should reward hard work," said the MALDEF representatives.
Also supporting Burnam's legislation is the National Organization for Women (NOW), whose representatives said the organization is concerned about the well being of children. That, she said, means they also are concerned about the well being of families, and in particular single mothers. She said many single Texas mothers are working minimum wage jobs.
"Tomorrow, the working poor, who most of my colleagues represent, will have their day in the (House) Economic Development Committee hearing room," said Burnam as he prepares to lay out his bill. He said that nothing is more fundamental to family values than letting a family have the opportunity to make a decent living when they're working a 40-60 hour workweek.
Fellow House member Rep. Norma Chavez (D-El Paso) said corporate America is attempting to hire workers for fewer than 40 hours per week so they don't have to pay insurance costs or retirement benefits for those employees. "We as a legislature should implement policy that would add a simple dollar to their wages if they work less than 40 hours and have no benefits."