Progressive Democrat Issue 102: VIRGINIA FOCUS

Following up on a more local, Virginia version of the economic issues Democrats should focus on, here is an action alert from the Virginia Organizing Project.

Your help is needed to raise the minimum wage in Virginia!

It's time that the poorest working Virginians got a raise. Virginia's hourly minimum wage of $5.15 has not been changed since 1997. Because inflation has eroded the wage's value, minimum wage workers earn just a third of what the average American worker makes today, the largest such gap since 1949. Since 1997, the minimum wage has decreased in value by 17 percent!

Minimum wage earners work as hard as anybody else. Yet they find themselves hopelessly behind in meeting the escalating costs of daily living, even with food stamps, rental assistance, and other forms of aid. Rents have soared, and thousands of people are waiting in line for years to gain an affordable place to live. (There are a lot more details once you go to "Act Now.")

Action Needed:

Please contact your state Delegate and Senator and encourage them to support an increase in Virginia's minimum wage. Please visit http://vop.e-actionmax.com to contact your state Delegate and Senator and follow the instructions below.

1. Enter your e-mail address only (do not enter a password) and click on Login. If your e-mail address is already on our database, please follow step 2 below. If your e-mail address is not found on our database, you will be taken to the sign up page (please follow the instructions for signing up). Once signed up, click Continue to get to the E-Action Alert Page.

2. This will take you to your own personal page where you can correct or fill in your contact information (which is needed in order to send your message to the correct state Delegate and Senator). Be sure to create a password here. (The password will also protect your privacy!). Also on this page you will also be able to choose the types of issues you wish to receive alerts on.

Thanks for all your continued support!