Ohio Democrats introduce bill to raise minimum wage
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WSYX/WTTE) - Ohio House Democrats want to give low wage workers a raise.
Tuesday, the group introduced a bill to gradually raise the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour by the year 2025.
Statehouse Democrats said about half of the people who need Medicaid, food stamps or other forms of welfare work full time for minimum wages. They say workers shouldn’t have to decide whether they can afford to eat or pay their bills.
“Raising the minimum wage is good for our economy and good for business,” said Senator Schiavoni. “When people are bringing home more money, they spend it in their local economy. That means increased demand for goods and services creating more jobs.”
The bill Democrats unveiled would gradually increase the minimum wage over the next seven years. They say more than a million Ohioans would get a raise if this passes. One of the people that showed support was Chaundra Kidd, a nursing home worker from Cleveland.
Kidd said she makes a little more than minimum wage. She claimed she has to pick and choose which bills she can afford to pay.
"We are making it barely but with an increase in our wage it would give me more of a chance to get by and perhaps maybe i could get that cup of coffee on my way to work," said Kidd.
So far, no Republicans have voiced support for this. They hold the majority in both the state House and Senate.
Democrats might have a hard time getting this passed, but they say they have to start somewhere.
WSYX/WTTE will continue to follow this proposed bill.
