Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan hopes to put a face on the minimum wage debate by inviting a Madison mother of two who has only ever worked low-wage jobs to attend the State of the Union address on Tuesday night.
President Barack Obama is expected to once again call on Congress to raise the federal minimum wage in the speech.
Pocan and other members of the Congressional Progressive Caucus have all invited low wage-workers to the event. Pocan’s guest is 25-year-old Arianna Goodwin, who started working in fast food at age 16.
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“I’ve worked numerous jobs since then, never more than 9 (dollars) per hour. Never in a job with health insurance,” said Goodwin.
Pocan said the issue may get traction in a Republican-controlled Congress under a Democratic president.
“There’s going to be some priorities the Republicans want to get done, and they’re going to have to have the support of the president,” said Pocan.
The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
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