$10 Minimum Wage Proposed In Michigan

Minimum wage workers in Michigan could soon see a pretty big pay rise. Lawmakers in the state have introduced legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $10.

Upper Michigan reports that state’s current minimum wage of $7.40 per hour. The new proposal would gradually increase that number over the next three years until workers were being paid a minimum of $10 an hour.

Supporters of the bill, like Democratic Reps. John Switalksi and Rashida Tlaib, said that raising the minimum wage would offer people “a chance at a better life” while narrowing the inequality gap. Dave Woodward, who launched an online petition at www.raisemichigan.com, said that more than 70 percent of people living in Michigan are in favor of increasing the minimum wage.

Woodward said: “Right now, minimum wage workers and middle class families are doing their taxes and they’re finding their taxes going up because of policies by Gov. Snyder and Republicans in Lansing… It’s long overdue that Michigan families get a raise and raising the minimum wage helps do that.”

Republican Governor Rick Snyder, as well as other GOP legislative leaders, said that the bill would only hurt Michigan since it would make it harder for employers to hire more people.

According to the Oakland Press, the last time the minimum wage was raised in Michigan was in 2008.

Michigan lawmakers aren’t the only ones who believe that the minimum wage should increase. President Obama talked about raising the minimum wage during his State of the Union address, and Elizabeth Warren recently said that the minimum wage should be increased to $22.