Idahoans For A Fair Wage Seek To Raise State's Minimum Wage Through Ballot Initiative

Published June 24, 2019 at 3:49 PM MDT

The National Low Income Housing Coalition estimates a minimum wage earner in Idaho would have to work 85 hours per week to afford a two-bedroom rental.

Idahoans For A Fair Wage wants to see the state's minimum wage raised above its current rate of $7.25 an hour. The federal rate was set in 2009 and in recent years, various states and municipalities have raised the wage on their own. The Fair Wage organization is gathering signatures to put the effort before voters as a ballot initiative. Idaho Matters speaks with the group's co-founder about life on minimum wage and Suzanne Budge from the Idaho chapter of the National Federation of Independent Business about the impacts on small business owners.