The Journal Gazette has an article on this. The Fort Wayne paper obviously recognizes a good state senator to get a quote from:
“I just think that unlike past years now it’s been clearly demonstrated that there is overwhelming acceptance of an increase in the minimum wage. Every poll I’ve seen shows support for it,” said Sen. Tim Lanane, D-Anderson. “The passage of time itself speaks for itself. If you’re going to have a minimum wage, which I think we have committed to, then it should be a reasonable minimum wage. Obviously, $5.15 is just not.”
Lanane has filed one of four bills so far by Democrats in the House and Senate seeking an increase. His bill, along with two others, uses a phased-in approach, reaching between $7.25 and $8 by the end of 2008.
One bill would hit $9 by 2009.
Ok, a little humor there. Lanane represents most of Madison County and part of Delaware County. He has got a very good of what it is like here.
This morning's Taking Down Words got my attention on this subject. TDW has links to some other articles on the subject and the comments to her blog ought to be read.
The theme seems to be the Governor is ok with the idea. I suspect TDW and her commentators are right - the Governor can make soothing noises that sound like he is in favor of the increase and hope the US Congress or the Republican's in Indiana's Senate keep the problem away from his desk.
For those against the increase just answer this question: do have to depend on the minimum wage for your job or does the business you work for depend on people whose income is minimum wage? In my business I see a lot of people who are not working at a union shop or on salary, and they can no longer afford me and I cannot afford to cut rates to work for them. At the same time, those who do have the income are leaving the area. The economists can argue over numbers but the question is what is right for all the people.
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