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.
