To: Joni Ernst, Candidate for US Senate
Joni: Can you live on $77 a week?
Three Iowa state senators will try to live on just $77 per week in an effort to bring awareness to the discussion of a higher minimum wage.
The state minimum wage in Iowa matches the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $290 per week of full-time employment. The Democratic Senators will attempt to live for a week with merely $77 to pay for groceries and transportation—the estimated amount left over for a minimum-wage earner after taxes and housing costs are deducted.
Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Joni Ernst, called the minimum wage "a great starter wage for many high school students." She is out of touch with the fact that everyday adults in Iowa work minimum wage to support their families! Will you call on Joni Ernst to take the "Minimum Wage Challenge" and see first-hand what it's really like to live on $7.25?
The state minimum wage in Iowa matches the current federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, or $290 per week of full-time employment. The Democratic Senators will attempt to live for a week with merely $77 to pay for groceries and transportation—the estimated amount left over for a minimum-wage earner after taxes and housing costs are deducted.
Republican candidate for the U.S. Senate, Joni Ernst, called the minimum wage "a great starter wage for many high school students." She is out of touch with the fact that everyday adults in Iowa work minimum wage to support their families! Will you call on Joni Ernst to take the "Minimum Wage Challenge" and see first-hand what it's really like to live on $7.25?
Why is this important?
Many Iowans work for minimum wage and that includes many of my friends and acquaintances. I'll bet many of the people you know are trying to feed their children, pay the rent and utilities on minimum wage jobs.