$800.00 [View All]

[helderheid]

According to a survey by the National Retail Federation, the average American shopper will spend about $800.00 over the holidays.

A person earning the $5.15 minimum wage would need 155 hours -- 19 work days, nearly a month -- to earn that much. And before that money goes to gifts, they have to pay the bills and put food on the table.

How can we expect millions of hard-working American families like that to enjoy the holidays when their paychecks put them thousands of dollars below the poverty line?

When Democrats take control of Congress in 2007, that will change. Here's how it's likely to happen:

As soon as Congress convenes in January, I'll reintroduce the Fair Minimum Wage Act, which will raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next two years. House Democrats plan to act on this important bill right away as well. Hopefully in a few short weeks Democrats can remedy more than nine years of Republican neglect of minimum wage workers.

To help us do so, I've recorded a new web video on the Fair Minimum Wage Act to help raise awareness and keep us focused. I hope you'll find it useful for spreading the word:

http://www.tedkennedy.com/raisethewage

We have much to celebrate over the holidays, but we can't forget those who are struggling to get by. Together, we're going to raise the minimum wage and make the lives of millions of hard-working families across the country a little easier. No one who works for a living should have to live in poverty.

Happy Holidays and '07!


Senator Edward M. Kennedy

Edited to add - this thread is not about how much we personally spent this holiday but on increasing the minimum wage - please sign the petition