Congresswoman Eddie Bernice Johnson joined Congressman George Miller in introducing The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012.It has been three years since minimum wage workers saw an increase in their paycheck. The minimum wage was last raised by a Democratic Congress in 2007, this increase gave as many as 13 million workers a much needed pay raise after a decade stuck at $5.15 per hour. Despite this, the real value of the minimum wage today buys less than it did in 1956. In addition, workers who rely on tips haven’t seen an increase in their wages since 1991. The required pay for tipped workers, excluding tips, has been stuck at a paltry $2.13 per hour for 21 years. And, the federal minimum wage doesn’t automatically rise with inflation.
Congresswoman Johnson said, "I firmly believes it is time to raise the minimum wage."
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2012 (H.R. 6211) will increase the minimum wage in three 85-cent steps, over three years, from $7.25 to $9.80 per hour. The rate will then be indexed to inflation each year thereafter. In addition, the legislation will increase the required cash wage for tipped workers in annual 85 cent increases, from today’s $2.13 per hour until the tip credit reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage.
