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WAGE , FROM PAGE 07 one did not (including a comparison of Indiana and Illinois, where the minimum wage is $8.25 per hour), show no loss of jobs in the communities with the higher wage mandate. Even in times of high unemployment, the job loss argument has proven to be untrue. A recent survey by the University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business showed that only 16 percent of economists polled were opposed to Obama’s proposed raise of the minimum wage. Both The Economist and Bloomberg News have recently endorsed a minimum wage hike. Public opinion polling shows a strong majority of voters support an increase — even among Republicans. In fact, a minimum wage increase could PHOTO BY MARK LEE Miryah Lazaropolis works full-time hours at Walmart - one of the top three low-wage employers. boost the economy. Consumer spending accounts for 70 percent of U.S. economic activity, and low-wage workers like for example, have not had an increase in Lazaropolis take their raises and spend them their minimum wage of $2.13 per hour in in the community, creating higher demand more than 20 years. Not surprisingly, waitand more jobs. The Economic Policy ers and waitresses are far more likely to be While over 140 living wage ordinances Institute estimates that the pending Fair paid below the poverty line, even when tips or laws have passed nationwide, Indiana Minimum Wage Act of 2013 — which calls are included. remains a tough place to argue for workfor a minimum wage increase to $10.10 per The people filling these low-wage jobs ers’ rights. In fact, the Indiana General hour by July 2015 — would deliver an estiare older and better-educated than the steAssembly in 2011 passed a law banning mated $51.5 billion to affected workers and reotype of a high school student working local communities from adopting minigenerate as many as 140,000 new jobs. part-time for extra cash. Nearly 90 percent mum wage laws at amounts higher than of the workers who would benefit from a the state level. In the 2013 legislative sesminimum wage hike are age 20 or older, and sion, House Democrats failed to advance a the median age for those filling the roles in proposal to raise the state minimum wage. the fast-growing home health care field is nearly 40. Over 40 Two false premises underlie this myth. The percent of the workers affected first is that a minimum wage increase would “It is terrible trying to live on less have its biggest effect on small businesses. Not have some college education and most work full-time. Nearly true. A study by the National Employment than $8 per hour.” a quarter of all U.S. children Law Project showed that two-thirds of lowhave a parent who would benefit wage workers are employed at large corpora— MIRYAH LAZAROPOLIS, A MOTHER RAISING from a minimum wage increase. tions, with Walmart, Yum Brands (Taco Bell, TWIN 3-YEAR-OLD BOYS ON MINIMUM WAGE Under current law, a full-time KFC, etc.) and McDonald’s coming in as the minimum wage worker only top 3 low-wage employers. makes $15,000 per year. But the The second false premise is that employeffects of a minimum wage increase to $9 per ers would be harmed by a minimum wage Still, former state Rep. John Day, hour would pull a three-person family supincrease. Corporate profits are at their highD-Indianapolis, said he believes that, in the ported by a minimum wage worker above est percentage of gross domestic product in long-term, the effort to raise Hoosier wages the federal poverty line. It would also help history, leading to companies hoarding vast will realize success. Historically, Indiana’s address the significant gender gap in wages, sums of cash — often overseas. Bolstered by minimum wage was set lower than the as women represent nearly two-thirds of a cheap workforce, most of the top low-wage federal level (not all workers are subject minimum wage workers. employers also showed profits in recent to federal wage laws), so Day proposed an years, and paid their chief executives, on increase. Year after year, the Chamber of average, nearly $10 million per year. Commerce and other business interests This trend is bad for small businesses, opposed the idea, and Day’s bill stalled. according to Holly Sklar, director of Business Finally, in 2007, Indiana law was amended for a Fair Minimum Wage. “The biggest Periodic minimum wage increases over the to mirror the federal wage. “There was a problem for Main Street businesses is years have created the illusion of a climbing good coalition in support of better wages,” lack of customer demand,” Sklar said in a wage floor. But the real purchasing power of Day said. “I had a Republican co-sponsor news release advocating a minimum wage the current minimum wage of $7.25 per hour and we pulled together church and labor increase. “Corporate profits are at their highis lower than it has been in past decades. The and community groups to testify and advoest since 1950, as a percentage of national minimum wage of $1.60 per hour in 1968, cate for the change.” income, while the share going to employees for example, would have a value of about A similar coalition is now in the works as is near its low point. We can’t build a strong $10.56 today. The smart way to remedy that local advocates aim to launch a campaign economy on a falling wage floor.” problem, and to keep from revisiting the that mimics the efforts in states like Illinois. minimum wage debate every few years, is to Likewise, they are pressing Indiana’s conindex the wage to inflation, as is already done gressional delegation to take a stand for with Social Security benefits. workers like Lazaropolis by signing the Fair Judged by another measure, the current Minimum Wage Act of 2013. minimum wage is even further behind the Lazaropolis would like to see that, too. As an underpaid working mother, times. The productivity of the U.S. work“It is terrible trying to live on less than $8 Lazaropolis is no outlier. An estimated 15 force has increased substantially in recent per hour,” she said. “You just can’t.” million workers would be set to receive a decades, but wages have not kept up. The pay raise under Obama’s proposal. U.S. job Center on Economic and Policy Research growth in recent years has been dominated Matt Lawson is a student in the Health estimates that the minimum wage would by lower-paying jobs, as manufacturing and Human Rights Clinic at Indiana be a whopping $21.72 per hour if it had jobs dry up and are replaced by jobs in University Robert H. McKinney School of been indexed to worker productivity. retail or food service. Tipped employees, Law. Fran Quigley teaches in the Clinic.
Raising the Minimum Wage is a Non-Starter in Indiana.
Raising the Minimum Wage Hurts Small Businesses.
We Have Already Raised the Minimum Wage Enough.
Raising the Minimum Wage Will only Affect Teenagers with Part-time Jobs.
GET INVOLVED Focus on Food Growing Places Indy launches a summer-long “lunch and learn series” on various aspects of food systems from 1-2 p.m. on Wednesdays through Aug. 7. Wednesday, May 29, 1-2 p.m., The Platform at City Market, 202 E. Market St. FREE. Pacers / Fever Tune in on Thursday, May 30, at 8:30 p.m. to see the Pacers in their NBA Eastern Conference finals battle against Heat in Miami. Then indulge your passion for live action on Friday by checking out the Indiana Fever in their season opener Downtown on May 31. Friday, May 31, Bankers Life Fieldhouse, 125 S. Pennsylvania St., 7 p.m. Prices vary. Recycle Fest Sponsored in part by our sister pub, Indiana Living Green, this festival launches the Indy Parks Summer Concert series, while emphasizing the importance of stewardship. Saturday, June 1, McCalister Amphitheatre, Garfield Park, 2432 Conservatory Drive, noon-10 p.m. $15. Beyond Coal Participants will endeavor to spell out “Beyond Coal” in an effort to convey their desire that IPL retire its Harding Street Coal Plant. See indiana. sierraclub.org/ for more info. Sat., June 1, 11:45 a.m., FREE. Pet Pride Read our cover story this week, but note Monday’s main event is Pet Pride, featuring a Red Carpet Fashion contest for pets, plus adoption opportunities from local animal shelters. Monday, June 3, Garfield Park, 2524 Conservatory Road, 6 p.m. FREE. LOOKING AHEAD TO NEXT WEEK: 2013 NUVO Cultural Vision Awards Join us at the Indiana Landmarks Center in a celebration of the individuals and organizations that have brought innovation and excellence into our community. RSVP at cva.nuvo.net Friday, June 7, Indiana Landmarks Center, 1201 Central Ave., 6 p.m., FREE.
N NUVO.NET Lawmakers Summer Study by Sandie Love Pence: Federal media shield law is needed by Lesley Weidenbener Food ethics with clergy farmer and Purdue prof by Hannah Leyva State looks to private firms on I-69 section by Lesley Weidenbener Hoosier vets face some of longest claim waits by Rebecca Townsend
VOICES • The Politics of Scandal by Abdul-Hakim Shabazz • A Wrigley Field pilgrimage by David Hoppe • Still the greatest spectacle in racing by Cam Savage NUVO // 100% RECYCLED PAPER // 05.29.13-06.05.13 // NEWS 9