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Back to To the Point

To the Point

The Minimum Wage, Income Inequality and Presidential Politics

Two years ago New York City, 200 fast food workers demanded a minimum wage of $15 an hour. They started something. Since then, legal minimums have been raised in red states as well as blue. The current federal floor is $7.25, and President Obama has proposed $10.10. Democrats in Congress are now pushing a federal floor of $12 an hour.

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By Warren Olney • May 5, 2015 • 33m Listen

Two years ago New York City, 200 fast food workers demanded a minimum wage of $15 an hour. They started something. Since then, legal minimums have been raised in red states as well as blue. The current federal floor is $7.25, and President Obama has proposed $10.10. Democrats in Congress are now pushing a federal floor of $12 an hour. Some Republican presidential hopefuls are talking about working class beginnings and cheap off-the-rack sweaters. Are we seeing a political movement? With voters still suffering in the aftermath of the Recession, we look at how income inequality is emerging as a major issue in next year’s campaign.

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    Warren Olney

    former KCRW broadcaster

  • KCRW placeholder

    Katie Cooper

    Producer, 'One year Later'

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    Jenny Hamel

    KCRW

  • KCRW placeholder

    Christine Detz

    Producer, 'To the Point'

  • KCRW placeholder

    Paul Waldman

    columnist for MSNBC

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ken Jacobs

    University of California, Berkeley

  • KCRW placeholder

    Ross Kaminsky

    Heartland Institute

    NewsNationalPolitics
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