Minimum Wage

In January of 2006, State Treasurer Richard Moore made a landmark speech in support of raising our state’s minimum wage by at least one dollar. In front of the North Carolina Citizens for Business and Industry and North Carolina Bankers Association, Treasurer Moore made an impassioned economic and moral argument in favor of raising our state’s minimum wage. Moore was the first statewide elected official to call for raising the wage. In the summer of 2006, Governor Easley signed legislation that increased the North Carolina minimum wage by one dollar.

In his speech, Moore noted that raising the minimum wage by one dollar would benefit more than 100 thousand North Carolina workers. The costs of health care, gasoline, and housing are increasing rapidly, but a full-time minimum wage worker would have to get by on less than $893 a month. In Richard Moore’s view, North Carolinians who work hard and play by the rules should be able to make ends meet. More than that, they should have the opportunity to improve their situation and that of their families. Our economy and businesses will be better off when our lowest income workers have the ability to provide for their families and climb the economic ladder.

North Carolina’s citizens and leaders recognized the wisdom of Moore’s leadership. When it came to raising the minimum wage, our workers deserved it, our morals demanded it, and our state’s economy will be better off because of it.