Kansas Sen. Marci Francisco, a Lawrence Democrat, has introduced a bill to raise the Kansas minimum wage from $2.65 an hour to the federal level, which goes to $7.25 in July (2/11, Local). Francisco estimates that more than 20,000 Kansas workers make a wage less than the current federal minimum of $6.55. Kansas has the lowest minimum wage in the nation. How can the Kansas Legislature support a minimum wage of $2.65 an hour? How can anyone survive on $2.65 an hour?
The Kansas minimum wage is a national disgrace. We need to help our Kansas citizens who are paid starvation wages. If you think the Kansas minimum wage is unfair, please contact your Kansas state senator and state representative and ask them to end this national disgrace by supporting an increase in the Kansas minimum wage.
Dan Lykins
Topeka
"The richness packed into $2.65/hr has paid for many Mercedes-Benz autos and fine homes. The wealth is on display filling various mall parking lots along Metcalf each weekend."
A little jealous are we? And get your addresses straight. The best malls outside the Plaza and Crown Center are at 95th and Quivira and 119th and Nall. And the best homes in KC are located on Ward parkway in Missouri. All far from Metcalf.
Posted by: PrairieVoice | February 16, 2009 at 12:20 AM
whispering_to_kc
Just goes to show how much better at financial management we Kansans are than you Missourians.
Posted by: Engineer | February 15, 2009 at 06:02 PM
... is this 2.65 figure for waitresses and other tip subsidized jobs? Through my job I see alot of back rooms in businesses - they all have the federal minimum wage requirements poster posted.
"How can anyone survive on $2.65 an hour?"
... this is the dumbest argument for raising the minimum wage. If we are expecting the minimum wage to be something a person can raise a family on - then it needs to be about 45K/yr. Now how badly do you want your groceries bagged when they cost you about a grand a week for the privilege?
Posted by: JUNGLE JACK | February 15, 2009 at 04:17 PM
BTW, Whispering, yer killin me today.
Posted by: TinaMcG | February 15, 2009 at 01:19 PM
It is mortifying to live in a state with a minimum wage is so insulting to workers. Maybe this is why some of the services I purchase are so poorly performed. A landscaping crew, all making close to or a bit more than our minimum wage, can't be expected to know (or care) how to plant a tree. So they do it badly or carelessly and it dies, which is just what happened to us last year, and now we are stuck with nearly $1000 in dead evergreen trees.
It's barbaric to pay people so little and expect them to love their jobs and perform well. WTH is up with Kansas anyway?
Posted by: TinaMcG | February 15, 2009 at 01:18 PM
Looked at from the proper perspective, there's much wealth packed into $2.65/hr wages.
The richness packed into $2.65/hr has paid for many Mercedes-Benz autos and fine homes. The wealth is on display filling various mall parking lots along Metcalf each weekend.
Dan must be a godless commie.
Posted by: whispering_to_kc | February 15, 2009 at 11:09 AM