Update: 76% of Americans Favor Raising the Minimum Wage
Up 5 percentage points from March, 76% of Americans would vote in favor of raising the minimum wage to $9 per hour.
The Gallup poll comes shortly after a White House official confirmed President Obama's support for the Fair Minimum Wage Act, a bill introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) and widely supported by Democrats.
“The President has long supported raising the minimum wage so hardworking Americans can have a decent wage for a day’s works to support their families and make ends meet, and he supports the Harkin/Miller bill that accomplishes this important goal,” the official told TIME.
Of those polled, , the same percentage of Americans who support it as a whole.Minimum wage currently rests at $7.50 and is not adjusted for inflation. If it did keep up with inflation, the minimum wage would be about $10.70.
Those opposed to raising the minimum, however, argue that it wont actually reduce poverty, it could lead to less working hours, and it will have a detrimental impact on young Americans.
Would you support raising the minimum wage to $9 per hour? What about $10.10 per hour, as proposed in the Fair Minimum Wage Act?