Americans United for Change on Thursday challenged U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.) to live on the federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour for one week.
After paying taxes and covering housing costs, the average minimum-wage employee working full time has just $77 left for one week, according to a press release. Americans United for Change called for Kirk to live on that level of income after he voted in April against discussing a minimum-wage increase.
“To Sen. Kirk, I say ‘walk the walk,’” said Americans United for Change President Brad Woodhouse. “Try living the minimum wage before refusing to raise it for others, many of whom are struggling to support a family.”
The advocacy group also called for Randy Hultgren, Peter Roskam, Adam Kinzinger and Rodney Davis – all GOP congressmen from Illinois – to do the same.
-Tom Butala