Is a statewide increase in the minimum wage worthwhile if it lowers Madison's minimum wage?
This is the dilemma facing Democrats Mark Pocan, Spencer Black and Terese Berceau, Madison's three representatives in the state Assembly, who must balance the needs of the entire state against the best interests of their constituents. The three held a public forum Thursday at the State Capitol in which UW students and many other community members discussed state Democrats' proposal to increase Wisconsin's minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.50.
Pocan said the state has not raised its minimum wage since 1997 despite inflation rising 12.7 percent.
The high cost of education weighed heavily on the mind of Kelly Egan, chair of Associated Students of Madison's Legislative Affairs Committee.
\As a student I am working three jobs to pay for my education,"" Egan told the legislators. ""One of them I make minimum wage, and it's not enough.""
After Egan's statement, Black wryly inquired, ""Minimum wage hasn't gone up in seven years. Has tuition gone up in the last seven years?""
Other UW students, however, pleaded with the legislators to not pass any proposal on to Gov. Doyle that would affect the city of Madison's already approved increase, which will ultimately be higher than $6.50.
""As much as we all want to raise the state minimum wage, it's not worth sacrificing a local community's ability to raise their own minimum wage,"" said Bill Anderson, UW-Madison sophomore and member of the UW Green/Progressive Alliance.
Although the city raised its minimum wage to $5.70 Jan. 1, it is just the first of a two-part increase. The minimum wage in Madison will jump to $7.75 in 2008. If the current proposal passes through the state Legislature with an amendment forcing all cities to adhere to a standardized minimum wage, the city would not be able to set a minimum higher than $6.50.
UW-Madison junior and Student Action Labor Coalition member Ross Reykdal echoed Anderson's concerns to the legislators.
""I urge you as politicians not to erode this plan by negating what has already gone on in Madison so far,"" he said.
But any proposed increase will face a tough battle in the Legislature. The Republicans control both houses, and many have given lukewarm responses to the Democrats' proposal.
