Missourians to End Poverty released its annual report on the state's poverty rate, which showed - while the rate has edged lower - it still is higher than the national average.
It was reported results from the report, which uses U.S. Census Bureau data to show the state's poverty rate declined from 14.8 percent in 2015 to 14 percent in 2016. That compares with a national average of 12.7 percent.
Missourians to End Poverty notes a "living wage" in Missouri is $10.76 an hour according to Massachusetts Institute of Technology calculations. An adult with a single child would have to make $23.45/hour.
On Jan. 1, Missouri's minimum wage increased by 15 cents to $7.85 an hour.
We commend the efforts of Missourians to End Poverty. The coalition has a vision of "a just society of shared responsibility by individuals, communities, business, and government in which all individuals are respected, have opportunities to reach their full potential and to participate in thriving, diverse, sustainable communities."
Efforts continue in Missouri to hike the minimum wage as a way to fight poverty and give all workers "living wages." We do need to continue fighting against poverty, but we believe this is the wrong approach.
Having an artificial (government mandated) minimum wage that inflates salaries beyond the market level will only hurt the workers that it aims to protect.
Employers will hire fewer workers, which will slow the economy and make it harder for people to get even minimum-wage jobs. It also can cause inflation when manufacturers find they need to raise prices to pay more for the same number of workers.
Not to mention, a big increase in the minimum wage is a slap in the face to everyone who has worked their tail off to put some distance between the minimum wage and their own salaries.
A better approach to help people toward self-sufficiency is to create pro-work policies that put a value on work and help people help themselves. Investments in education and job skills also are solid investments in our residents' future.