Grassley: $10,000 a Year is More Than Enough

Contributed by: jmccormally, IDP website

Des Moines – Senator Charles Grassley is so out of touch with day to day life in Iowa that he believes that $10,000 a year is a livable wage.  During debate on the Senate floor over the minimum wage, Grassley did some simple arithmetic, calculating that a minimum wage worker, working 40 hours a week for 52 weeks, would earn a little over $10,000 a year.  That’s a few dollars more than then federal poverty threshold of $9,310. Grassley concluded that there was no need to raise the minimum wage, because “A minimum wage worker is left with more money than the federal poverty guidelines.”

“Senator Grassley should be ashamed of himself,” declared Iowa Democratic Party Chair Gordon Fischer. “He either has zero understanding of what it is like to work for a living, or he simply has no compassion. Either way, it is outrageous to suggest that $10,000 a year is a livable wage for anyone.  I suggest Senator Grassley cut his own $150,000 salary to 10 grand, and then try to afford housing, food, clothing, health care, day care, and transportation.  Better yet, maybe he should find a new job entirely.”

I do believe I have a Grassley flyer in me.  I can feel it in there, working its way to the top.  If anyone can point me to any futher Grassley absurdities (with sources), please contact me (Linda) at Blog for Iowa.