President Obama is Taking Wage Hike Issue to Michigan

Next Wednesday President Obama will be in Ann Arbor detailing why he thinks the federal minimum wage should be raised to $10.10 an hour.  The trip has been confirmed by the White House and officials are saying specifics on the President's visit here will be released soon.

Right now the group "Raise Michigan" is in the process of rounding up signatures that would get an issue on a statewide ballot that would allow the state's minimum wage to go from $7.40 to $10.10 an hour by January, 2017. It would also ensure the wage keeps up with the cost of living based on the consumer price index. In addition it would include a guarantee that tipped workers would eventually be at full minimum wage status. They are paid $2.65 and hour now. Under the proposal they would get an 85 cent an hour increase each year until they reached minimum wage.

Supporters contend raising the wage will give people more money to spend which in turn would help the local economy.