In his State of the Union address on Tuesday, President Barack Obama called for raising the federal minimum wage. The president says that step would help pull many working Americans out of poverty, but others warn it would cost jobs.
Charles Pearson, who is looking for work, said that he supports a hike in the minimum wage.
"I think that it's a good idea because try living off of $9 an hour. It's hard just to live off of $9 an hour, if your rent is $600 or $700 a month," Pearson said.
Chad Hale, the head of the Georgia Avenue Community Ministry, says its workers make at least $11 an hour -- well above the current federal minimum wage of $7.25.
"I would like to see it raised because I don't think that the lowest wages have kept up over the years. Workers have gotten further and further behind," said Hale.
But Hale acknowledges a potential risk.
"That causes me some mixed emotions because I don't want to see other people put out of work," Hale said.
That's the challenge faced by President Obama as he calls for raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour.
"Even with the tax relief we've put in place, a family with two kids that earns the minimum wage still lives below the poverty line. That's wrong," President Obama said on Tuesday.
But Kyle Jackson, the state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, warns that an increase would put more strains on small businesses.
"If the President wants to get serious about creating jobs, he should drop this idea altogether. It's not a job creator, but it's a job killer," said Jackson.
House Speaker John Boehner also opposes a minimum wage hike.
"When you raise the police of employment, guess what happens? You get less of it. At a time when the American people are still asking the question: where are the jobs? Why would we want to make it harder for small employers to hire people," Boehner.
In addition to his call to raise the minimum wage, the President says future increases should be automatically tied to inflation.
The Obama Administration says the proposed hike would increase the wages of about 15 million low-income workers across the country.
Thursday, May 23 2013 8:31 AM EDT2013-05-23 12:31:23 GMT
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Later today, Georgia State Rep. Tyrone Brooks is expected to speak publicly about his recent arrest on fraud and tax charges. Brooks was arraigned in federal court on Wednesday.
Thursday, May 23 2013 7:32 AM EDT2013-05-23 11:32:32 GMT
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces.
As we celebrate Memorial Day weekend, we'll pause to remember the men and women who died while serving in the U.S. Armed Forces. It's also a great time to thank veterans for their service to our country—veterans just like World War II American hero Lew Fern.
Thursday, May 23 2013 12:56 AM EDT2013-05-23 04:56:30 GMT
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
The FOX 5 I-Team has learned that Douglas County District Attorney David McDade is personally asking the GBI to investigate how money is spent in his office.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:55 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:55:59 GMT
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home.
A local woman says she's trying to rebuild her life after storms hit this past weekend and destroyed her home. Just one day later, some of her family members were in Oklahoma near where the tornado hit.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 11:50 PM EDT2013-05-23 03:50:14 GMT
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground.
FOX 5 has learned that two Newton County elementary school students are being treated for injuries after they were bitten by a fox while they were playing on a playground. Both victims are 6-year-old boys who are in kindergarten at Rocky Plains Elementary School, where the attack happened.
