Remember this Argument?

“We Can’t Raise the Minimum Wage Because it Will Cause Unemployment to Rise.”

Opponents of Montana’s successful initiative to raise the minimum wage used this argument to scare voters - particularly low income voters - into voting against raising the minimum wage.

We thought we would take a minute now that we have had the new minimum wage in effect in Montana for six months to see if they were right.

Not even close.

In fact, Montana’s unemployment rate now stands at 2.3% (as of May, 2007 seasonally adjusted figures from the U.S. Department of Labor) – the lowest rate in the Country. Montana has 12,500 more people employed than at the same time a year ago – nearly two-thirds of those (8,000) since the minimum wage increase went into effect in January.

Please feel free to share this information with others who may be wondering about the impact of passage of I-151. Clearly, your work has made a difference in the lives of thousands of Montanans and in helping move the economy of our state forward.