Washington – Obama Dares Republicans: Try Living On About $15,000 A Year

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    President Barack Obama (L) shakes hands with US House Speaker, Republican John Boehner (R), beside US Vice President Joe Biden (C), before delivering his 6th State of the Union address before a joint session of Congress on the floor of the US House of Representatives, in Washington, DC, USA, 20 January 2015. EPA/MICHAEL REYNOLDSWashington – President Barack Obama is challenging Republicans to raise the federal minimum wage, which is now $7.25 an hour. And he’s laying down a dare to anyone in Congress who refuses to raise the minimum wage.

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    Obama says that if lawmakers truly believe they can work full time and support a family of four on less than $15,000 a year, then they should try it. The salary of most senators and House members is $174,000.

    Obama has proposed raising the minimum wage to $10.10. It was pegged at $7.25 in 2009.

    He made his comments in his State of the Union address.

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    13 Comments
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    rebshmuel
    rebshmuel
    10 years ago

    What an Idiot.

    We have turned the nation into people who have a family of four but rely on a minimum wage job.

    The idea of this great country was for everyone to be able to make it – a high or higher paying job.

    You were never supposed to be flipping burgers with four kids at home… that was supposed to be for teenagers

    10 years ago

    The president is right…in NYC, it takes at least $100,000/year for a family of four to “survive” much less live comfortably. While first year grads at the top law firms and investment banks are getting $150,000 to $225,000/year, a clerk at a heimeshe grocery in BP or Willy with 20 years experience in stocking shelves or checkout is lucky to make $40,000/year. Too much inequality

    PaulinSaudi
    PaulinSaudi
    10 years ago

    So the fact that adults have to take these jobs is the president’s fault how?

    ralph1527
    ralph1527
    10 years ago

    I have a simple solution for the President .Raise taxes ,so that the $15000. a year earners ,can get some more help .IE ,,,”free community college for 2 years ,just like high school “,medicaid ,food stamps .What a novel idea .

    puppydogs
    puppydogs
    10 years ago

    He is right that you can’t live on 15k per year. HOWEVER, raising the minimum wage isn’t necessarily the answer either. Lets say it get raised to $10hr that means they will be making 20k per year which again you can’t live on.

    He failed to mention that people living on minimum wage are on numerous other government programs such as Section 8, Medicaid, and Food Stamps etc and pay no tax. These benefits add up to tens of thousands of dollars each year.

    He also failed to mention that there was a study last year which showed that most minimum wage earners (excluding kids) had a spouse that had a high paying job.

    Lastly, I am curious to know how many of these minimum wage earners are illegal immigrants?

    RobertS
    RobertS
    10 years ago

    Hey Obama: Try VACATIONING on $15,000 per year. That’s much more than most families spend on vacations per year, but probably not even what what you spend PER DAY on vacation.

    Ray_from_PA
    Ray_from_PA
    10 years ago

    I love the logic. Let’s use it more. I challenge Obama to use the health-care that all of us are stuck with. How about a pension like noon govt employers. How about eating just like the public school students do. How about having all his friends who are anti guns live without paid bodyguards. I’m not including the president himself in that last one. His argument is so one sided that it begs to be challenged.

    10 years ago

    Sorry guys that last formula was a typo and should have read 140000/3000=46.6667 an hour. Since 60 hours a week times 50= 3000