© 2024 Ideastream Public Media

1375 Euclid Avenue, Cleveland, Ohio 44115
(216) 916-6100 | (877) 399-3307

WKSU is a public media service licensed to Kent State University and operated by Ideastream Public Media.
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
News
To contact us with news tips, story ideas or other related information, e-mail newsstaff@ideastream.org.

Democratic State Lawmaker Wants Hike in Minimum Wage

Pro-union demonstrators call for a higher minimum wage for fast food workers in 2013. (Brian Bull / ideastream)
Pro-union demonstrators call for a higher minimum wage for fast food workers in 2013. (Brian Bull / ideastream)

Democratic State Rep. Bob Hagan of Youngstown wants to increase Ohio’s minimum wage to $10.10. The current wage is at $7.95, but Hagan says that’s too low for families who are trying to pay for food and housing.

One perception could be that a large portion of those making the minimum wage are high schoolers, but the representative says teenagers only make up 12.5%.

"The rest are adults who are trying to make a living with their families," Hagan said. "It’s increasingly more difficult to do that on what we’re giving them right now.”

Though Hagan’s bill faces a Republican-controlled House, he says he’s encouraged that some high-profile conservatives such as former GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney are coming out in support of raising the minimum wage.

Nick Castele was a senior reporter covering politics and government for Ideastream Public Media. He worked as a reporter for Ideastream from 2012-2022.