FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

News from Progress Michigan

March 6, 2014

Contact: Sam Inglot, 616-916-0574, sam@progressmichigan.org

Study: Michigan Would See $205.4 million in SNAP Savings If Minimum Wage Were Raised

MICHIGAN — A new report from the Center for American Progress, released yesterday, found that if the federal minimum wage were increased to $10.10 it would lower government spending on SNAP by $205.4 million in Michigan and at least 110,000 Michiganders would no long need to rely on the program.

“Right now, our economy isn’t working for everyone,” said Ben Olinsky, Senior Fellow at the Center for American Progress. “Michigan’s economy is stacked in favor of those at the top at the expense of everyone else. Raising the minimum wage will help provide Michiganders an economy that works for everyone and not just the wealthy few. Our report shows that raising the minimum wage to $10.10 means that between 110,000 to upwards of 129,000 Michigan residents will no longer need SNAP benefits, saving $205.4 million annually. It’s time to stop playing politics, give our economy a much-needed shot in the arm, and give a raise to millions of Americans.”

There is an effort underway in Michigan to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, which is being spearheaded by Raise Michigan, a ballot committee which is currently gathering signatures to get a question on the November ballot to raise the minimum wage.

“I think this report shows that all employers — and particularly large corporations — need to take their fair share of the burden for compensating their workers properly,” said Frank Houston with the Raise Michigan Coalition. “When you look at the fact that we could get over 110,000 minimum wage workers off SNAP, it’s fair to say that that’s not currently happening under the current minimum wage.”

Houston went on to say that it’s not just minimum wage workers who would directly benefit from a minimum wage increase to $10.10 an hour.

“When we look at the impact that raising the minimum wage would have here, we know that there’s nearly one million, if not more, people that will be directly impacted or indirectly impacted, Houston said. “About 640,000 of those are minimum wage workers, but it’s also the people who are being supported by those workers who are heads of households. We have over 341,000 children that are being supported by minimum wage workers. The impact that this would have is significant on reducing poverty and give people a fighting chance to make ends meet.”

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