Proposal to raise Michigan's minimum wage finding support

An effort to raise Michigan's minimum wage from $7.40 to $10.10 per hour has been underway by the Raise Michigan group. In recent years, the state minimum wage has drastically changed.

In 2006, entry-level jobs paid $5.15 per hour before state legislature agreed to increase that to $6.95 later that year. It then increased again to $7.15 a year later, before finally settling on $7.40, where it has been since 2008.

However, the proposed $10.10 minimum wage wouldn't occur in one giant lump-sum. According to Raise Michigan's proposal, the additional $2.70 would be gradually implemented over the next three years, beginning with a 70 cent increase at the beginning of 2015. Additionally, the Raise Michigan group is also petitioning to raise the minimum wage rate for tipped employees, who currently make $2.65 per hour. The proposal would add an additional 85 cents per year until the number matches the regular minimum wage.

Several Delta College students voiced their opinions on a potential increase to the minimum wage.

“It would help students, but it takes from their incentive to get a better job,” said Amy Reinbold, 46, a RN Applied Science major from Bay City.

“It’s a good idea,” said Andrew Thomas, 21, a history major from Saginaw. “With current wages, people struggle with two or more jobs.”

“It would only benefit a small portion,” said Jon Blasius, 19, a criminal justice major from Vasser. “It will deter people from college, with high starting wages.”

“It would increase grocery prices,” said Mollie Puffpaff, 18, undecided, of Saginaw. “Eventually it will be more expensive to live and pay bills.”

In a recent statewide EPIC-MRA poll released to the Detroit Free Press, 60 percent of people approved of raising the minimum wage, while 37 percent were against such a change.

The Raise Michigan ballot committee has a May 28 deadline to collect 258,000 signatures to bring the issue to the state legislature. If the signatures are collected, the legislature would have 40 days to act upon it. If they do act, it will be passed into law. If they do not act, the proposal will go to voters in November.