Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is leading the fight to increase the minimum wage. The congressman would like to see every American get a wage of at least $10 per hour, which is an increase from the current rate of $7.25 per hour. President Barack Obama promised that the minimum wage would be over $9 per hour by this year, but he has not been able to make it happen.
Jackson is citing President Obama’s campaign promise and is promoting his wage increase as the Catching Up Act of 2012. Jackson notes, however, that even an increase to $10 per hour would not match the real wage that was paid in 1968 (adjusted for inflation).
“I’m calling on President Barack Obama to honor his campaign commitment of 2008 to stand behind legislation that raises the minimum wage for the American people a little more than he requested in 2008 because the numbers and the economy reflect that $10 is not an unreasonable starting point,” Jackson said at a June 6 news conference.
Ralph Nader, a former presidential candidate, has backed Congressman Jackson on the issue as well.
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