U.S. Minimum Wage Reaches Historic Lows

As of this spring, the real (that is, inflation-adjusted) value of the United States minimum wage has reached record lows. The following graph shows the minimum wage, in nominal dollars and 2005 dollars, from 1950 through 2005...(read on)

As of this spring, the real (that is, inflation-adjusted) value of the United States minimum wage has reached record lows. The following graph shows the minimum wage, in nominal dollars and 2005 dollars, from 1950 through 2005...

(Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

That’s right: as of this spring, the real value of the minimum wage is lower than it’s been in fifty-five years. As inflation continues to exert its eroding effect, the real value of the minimum wage will continue to fall into deeper historical depths. Senator Debbie Stabenow of Michigan has introduced a bill, S. 14, to bring the minimum wage back up to a more typical historical level. Not one Republican has cosponsored the bill, only 13 Democrats have cosponsored it, and it is languishing in the Senate.

In the House of Representatives, no one has even bothered to introduce a bill to meaningfully increase the minimum wage (although, as diarists have noted, Rick Santorum has introduced a bill that purports to increase the minimum wage but actually guts it).

Where are the Democrats on this issue? Why isn't this pocketbook issue being hammered home?

This diary comes to you in Irregular Times...