Editorial Board

Editorial+Board

Several groups, including Raise Wisconsin and Wisconsin Jobs Now, have banded together to file a complaint that calls on Gov. Scott Walker’s administration to raise the state’s minimum wage to a “living wage.” The groups are taking advantage of Chapter 104 of the state statutes, which are about the minimum wage law, and hoping to force Walker’s signature.

Peter Rickman, campaign manager for Raise Wisconsin, said, according to WQOW, “After filing this complaint today, he has 20 days to take appropriate action and to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to a living wage.”

Members of The Spectator Editorial Board agree that the current minimum wage is not enough to support a person that is working full-time.

One member said there is no correlation between the economy and the minimum wage.

Another member said the current minimum wage is proven to not be enough and the difference amplifies the separation between the rich and the poor.

“We need to not let this gap get any bigger,” they said.

One member said a recent study found it costs $250,000 to raise a child.

“If you are working 40 hours a week you should be able to support a family,” they said. “That’s on the government.”

Multiple members said minimum wage is forcing parents to work multiple jobs, leaving children home alone to be raised by someone else.

“We are going to have a whole generation of kids who raised without parents around,” one member said.

“It’s a vicious cycle,” another member said. “The cost of living is going to go up but the economy needs to catch up.”

One member said the low minimum wage negatively affects college students. A student may be working several jobs to try to cover rent, tuition and food bills, and may fall behind in coursework.

This movement against Walker must be acted upon in 20 days. One member said they are interested to see if and how Mary Burke uses this action against Walker and if Walker uses it to increase Republican backing for the upcoming election.

Another member said they we should be wary of time requirements in politics, referencing the Open Records law. Reporters submitting an open records request are often surprised when action has not been taken in the allotted time period. The member said they will be interested to see if Walker has done anything in the 20 day time period.