The New York Times has an interactive feature in which you can plug in your basic living expenses and see how far the minimum wage ($8 in New York, $6.25 by Arkansas law for those not covered by the federal minimum) will go in covering it.

Also in the Times today: How the restaurant industry is working through lobbyists to defeat federal legislation to increase the minimum wage.

Advertisement

Working people’s hopes must rest at the ballot box. For now, polls show most people favor an increase in the minimum wage. This is before a huge industry effort to convince people that below-subsistence wages are good for business, if not for the people who receive them.

A campaign is underway in Arkansas to bring an increase to the ballot. From the sounds of things, the business lobby won’t go along with an increase to avoid a worse outcome as they did once before.

Advertisement

Be a Part of the Fight

Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 50 years. Our tough, determined, and feisty journalism has earned us over 63,000 Facebook followers, 58,000 Twitter followers, 35,000 Arkansas blog followers, and 70,000 daily email blasts, all of whom value our commitment to holding the powerful accountable. But we need your help to do even more. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Join us in the fight for truth by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times today.

Previous article Diane Blair’s papers produce trove of insight on Hillary Clinton Next article Tim Griffin to announce for lieutenant governor Thursday