Minimum Wage Archives » Lynda Waddington

12Feb 2017 by Lynda Waddington

GOP bills give ‘Big Gov’ a hug

Gazette Column

Iowa Supreme Court Chief Justice John Forrest Dillon is looking down — perhaps from atop the pillar of his namesake fountain in Davenport — reading proposals by the Republican-controlled Legislature and smiling. Justice Dillon, for readers unaware, is credited with Dillon’s Rule: “Municipal corporations owe their origin to, and derive their powers and rights wholly from, the legislature. It breathes into them the breath of life, without which they cannot exist. As it creates, so may it destroy. If it may destroy, it may abridge and control. ” Dillon served on the Iowa high court from 1864 to 1869; the rule named after him is derived from two 1868 opinions. In Iowa, Dillon’s Rule was shelved in 1968, when the state constitution was amended to grant cities home rule. Additional…

The middle, $8 an hour isn’t enough

Gazette Column

Our 16-year-old daughter joined the working class a few weeks ago and has completed a crash course in tax withholding and direct deposit. Wages per hour needed no explanation. She took the job that offered the highest hourly wage, and continues to look within her employer’s job offerings for a higher paying position. She is money-motivated and, for the record, so are her friends. They aren’t looking for lifelong careers or resume boosts, and few have any inkling of company loyalty. The Iowa economy, considered one of the more stable, experienced a 44 percent increase in the child poverty rate since 2000. Students eligible for free and reduced school lunches has skyrocketed 56 percent. We’ve more than tripled the percentage of Iowans who receive food assistance. The economic lesson learned…

It’s not just the money, honey

Gazette Column

Food and living expenses have new meaning for three Eastern Iowa state senators who recently accepted a national challenge to Live the Wage for one week. Rob Hogg of Cedar Rapids, Joe Bolkcom of Iowa City and Tom Courtney of Burlington agreed to try and live with only $77 of spending money. The national challenge is the product of a coalition of advocates who hope to draw attention to the issue of the federal minimum wage. A person working 40 hours per week at minimum wage has gross earnings of $290 per week. The $77 is what the advocates estimate remains after taxes ($35.06) and housing expenses ($176.48) are deducted. Facebook posts have documented the challenge for the trio, and their commentary has been what one might expect from three…