Poverty is at an unacceptable level in SC & Soup kitchens are under to many restrictions which means kids & elderly go to bed hungry every day. This shouldn't & won't be as bad if wages are adjusted to make a trip to the grocery store for everyone every week...not just the upper middle class!

Our states current minimum wage is $8.25. That's not enough for anyone to live on. We deserve an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy and well-connected. I personally worked 26 years to only get $13.49--26 years. I am disabled from that same factory. Join with me in calling on our state legislature to raise the minimum wage to $12.00

Help reduce poverty and improve the economy.

By raising the minimum wage we give the opportunity to more people to participate in the social happening ,having more money to spend in the local markets and enhancing our culture and local society . States and countries who care about the minimum wage and pay workers a decent pay are healthier more cohesive and stronger as a society . They live longer and happier and are more secure .

Working for $8.73 is absurd, and offers no change of finding decent housing, food, or a reasonable life. It contributes dramatically to the vast inequality in the country; Vermont, though better in ways, is overall no exception. It also has the effect of making wages in the $9-11/hr range seem reasonable, when they are in fact woefully inadequate. A minimum wage increase is not by any means all that is needed to combat the inequality and vast economic disparity of the region and country, but it is helpful, a start, and extremely important nonetheless.

Help everyone succeeed by passing a Minimum Wage. Passing a $10.10 Minimum Wage in North Carolina will help close the earnings gap for women. The more income that women and men have the better the economy and for all small business owners. Stress will be ruduced in many households as there will be more flexiblity in managing the household. It will also reduce the level of poverty across the board.

In 1968 I was able to put myself through college with a minimum wage job. Now students can barely buy books at that same job! Tuition has increased 1200%! People need a living wage!

Even though Oregon has a high minimum wage compared to many parts of the country, it could be higher. A raising of the minimum wage would create a much needed boost in the Oregon economy.

So New Yorkers get the pay checks that they deserve.

I have been personally affected by the current child support system in a negative manner. The current law is outdated, unfair, and in many instances, unconstitutional. Reform is needed so that the modern family and our diverse situations can be correctly addressed. This will ensure that proper guidelines are being mandated and followed. No child deserves to be subjected to witnessing their parent fall victim to the child support system.

While Secretary Chuck Hagel insists that he is doing military members and there families a favor by keeping commissaries open; by cutting the tax payer subsidy from $1.4 billion to 4 million you are taking the 30% savings down to nearly nothing. Being a US Marine wife with 4 young children, living in Southern California, I know first hand how helpful the commissary savings is. Everything is being taken from us, and it is time to take a stand. Is this really what our Service Members and there families mean to the government for the continuous sacrifices they make? It is saddening that a California State prisoner gets more than a US marine and his family.

Over a million Americans have lost their unemployment insurance and despite applying for jobs every day, are unable to find a job. The longer a person stays unemployment, the less likely a company will hire them. I've heard of too many families losing their homes because of this. Too many people who were productive citizens are struggling to feed their own. If the government pays millions to sit at home why can't they help those who are looking for work. As a requirement of unemployment everyone must show proof of job search and job search related activities. It will take 1 minute to sign this. And that 1 minute will provide millions of families with basic necessities.