False Hope

The Michigan minimum wage rises to $7.15 an hour starting today.

“This increase will put a little more money in the pockets of Michigan citizens who are working hard every day to pay for rent, to fill up their gas tanks, and to put food on the table for their kids,” [Governor] Granholm said.

Granholm said increasing the minimum wage is one part of her plan to diversify and grow Michigan’s economy. The state’s reliance on automotive and manufacturing jobs has contributed to its economic problems.

Not to sound defeatist, but making $7.15 an hour (up from $6.95 an hour) isn't going to put a "little more money" in the pockets of Michigan citizens. Let's see, $0.20 an hour, assuming (but probably not) working at 40 hours a week, gives an extra $8 a week. Pre-tax, that is enough for 2.3 gallons of gasoline, or about two boxes of cereal.

And I don't know how paying $7.15 an hour is supposed to "diversify and grow Michigan’s economy."