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Minimum Wage Increases Thursday Save Email Print
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(July 24, 2008)—Thursday is the day about 2 million Americans get a raise, as the federal minimum wage goes up 70 cents an hour.

The increase, from $5.85 to $6.55 per hour, is the second of three annual hikes required by a 2007 law.

The bad news may be that higher gas and food prices will likely swallow up that extra cash.

Energy costs have soared nearly 25 percent.

The price of food is up more than 5 percent.

The minimum wage is scheduled to increase next on July 24, 2009, to $7.25 an hour.
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Posted by: Mac Location: TX on Aug 1, 2008 at 02:20 PM
If raising wage is the trick, then lets just raise to $20 an hour.
Posted by: working stiff Location: Waco on Jul 25, 2008 at 01:47 PM
Minimum wages are low but at least the people drawing minimum wages are working for there wages. What the goverment needs to do is limit welfare programs to no more than that of minimum wage because most of these people dont work and draw more than minimum wage.
Posted by: jacque Location: Waco on Jul 25, 2008 at 12:45 PM
This country did away with merit increases in favor of cost of living increases(that name is a joke), that took away incentive. If you can barely perform and get the same $0.25 an hour increase as the employee going all out - why would you (unless the parents taught you ethics)? You can bet anyone complaining about the increase is making way more then minimum wage!
Posted by: midle class Location: temple on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:40 AM
i am a low middle class person. you know people could get better raises if managers, executives, lawers, doctors, business owners our government leaders would share the wealth instead of being so greedy. big bonus packages, high salaries,and other perks. it is a thing called greed. i think this is hurting america. i love this country, but we need to put our priorties straight. i dont blame everyone, but we all need to do some hard thinking about the problems.
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Ft Hood on Jul 25, 2008 at 08:04 AM
I agree with Lisa. Let Congress, the Senate and the rest of them live a year at minimum wage and see what they do. Hell 99.9% couldnt live a week like that. But lets face it, they wont, and nothing will change. If any of them had a shred of decency they would stop voting THEMSELVES a pay raise and lifetime benefits. They should get their pay while they serve and medical while they serve only (and I could live with no medical). None of the extra friggin perks they get. And no lifetime retirement pay unless they are in congree, the senate, et al, 30 years. Just sayin is all.
Posted by: Just sayin is all Location: Killeen on Jul 25, 2008 at 07:34 AM
Its never ending people. Minimum wage goes up, prices of everything else goes up and you'll never see the difference. The problem is minimum wage should only be for teenagers living with thier parents and maybe part time workers who can make tips. (Some places pay less than minimum wage for people who get tips). The minimum wage you can be paid. It was not intended to be your final earnings level. If more business understood and followed the guidlines, a person may start at the minimum, but through good work practices can start receiving raises. Instead of jacking up the minimum wage, maybe we should start looking closer at businesses that start and keep workers at that pay rate.
Posted by: Jane Location: Whitney on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:28 PM
This wage increase is really not going to help. As a small business owner, I am barely surviving with all the other increased costs. I am going to expect a lot more work out of the employees that I have when the pay goes up. I have a feeling that the better pay is not going to get me better work out of my employees. This increase in pay will cause our prices to go up.
Posted by: Jacque Location: Waco on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:01 PM
I know alot of people that work 40 hours a week and can't make it because everything is so high.
Posted by: Judy Location: Waco on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:42 PM
i make about twice that and still have to have a parttime job to make bills and food because the gas is so high on everyone!
Posted by: The Patriot Location: Texas on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:38 PM
WOW! 70 cents! Let's see, if you work an 8 hour day at the new minimum wage, you can afford a whole 1 & 1/4 gallon of gas!!
Posted by: ABC Location: WACO on Jul 24, 2008 at 06:48 PM
My hat goes off to all the ones that can make $6.55 an hr work! I make almost 3 times that amount and still don't have enough. I agree with one of the comments, the gov. should try and live on $6.55 and i bet it would go up lot more then it did.
Posted by: Gail Location: CenTex on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:14 PM
As I stated the raise will do no good because the cost of goods and services will increase to accomadate the wage increase. Employers will pass this on to the consumer and yes, minimum wage earners are consumers too. In a month or so you will not be able to buy any more with $6.55 than you can right now with $5.85. When it is increased to $7.25, you will not be able to buy anymore then with $7.25 than you can now with $5.85.
Posted by: Lisa Location: Temple on Jul 24, 2008 at 01:44 PM
I would LOVE to see Congress try to live on Min Rage for 1 year. no exra money comin in and see how fast they up it to a decent wage. Love the Alpo dig El Diablo but cant afford alpo has to be old roy or somthing generic for me.
Posted by: EL DIablo Location: Hell on Jul 24, 2008 at 11:16 AM
Minimum wage going up? Great news. Pass the Alpo, please.
Posted by: lyndsey Location: belton on Jul 24, 2008 at 09:24 AM
this makes me laugh....it's 2008 and minimum wage is just now $6.55, that is a joke...i make over 10 an hour and i still can't make it. it's ridiculous the way we are done...i work 6 days a week and still don't make enough to last til the next check. 6 days away from my child and for what to pay bills, that's it, no fun, no extras, nothing. that's what makes people not want to work, because you don't get anything in return. you can't enjoy your hard earned money, it goes straight from your hand to someone elses. it get's discouraging, but i am very very thankful that i am fortunate enough to have a job making more then this chump change!
Posted by: Lorie Location: Waco on Jul 24, 2008 at 08:20 AM
I agree with Gail, Things will go up once more. But I'm kind of glad people who get paid minimum wage will get it. It will help out a lot.
Posted by: Gail Location: CenTex on Jul 24, 2008 at 07:52 AM
So what? Now the cost of goods and services will go up, because businesses will definately pass this increase to the consumer. $6.55 will not buy any more that $5.85 will.
Posted by: Katarina Location: Waco on Jul 24, 2008 at 05:41 AM
This is very good now maybe some people will get off their lazy butts & get a job!! once it goes up again next year, People wont be able to say its not worth it! For $7.25 most jobs will be worth, But them lazy ones will find any excuse to not work!!
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