Minimum Wage Initiative needs approval

Editor,

This is a reply to the letter in the Sept. 14 issue "Don't pass Minimum Wage initiative."

Raising the minimum wage is a moral issue. Almost everyone agrees that $5.15 is not a "living" wage, especially for anyone with children. Even at full-time, a person only makes $10,700 in a year before taxes. Even a single person cannot live on that and meet their basic needs of food, clothing, shelter and health care, and with children, it would be an impossible task. No one who works 40 hours a week should be living in poverty.

There are 30,000 Montanans who will benefit from raising the minimum wage.

Let's not forget those few who feel trapped in a low-wage job, just trying to make ends meet. Vote for I-151 in November.

Cathy Billie

St. Ignatius