UNOFFICIAL TRANSCRIPT
WMTW ANCHOR, JEFF PETERSON: Does Maine need a higher minimum wage?
[Onscreen Graphic:
MINIMUM WAGE
The current rate is $6.50 an hour. The Maine Senate is considering a bill that would raise it to $7.00 over a two-year period. As Jim Cyr reports, supporters of the minimum wage hike were out in full force this morning.
[Shots of a dozen KVO leaders riding a school bus with signs in the windows reading: “Wage Justice Express.” They are seen singing together, listening to a briefing by KVO Jobs Team member Irene Sylvain, and engaging in one-to-one conversations about the importance of a minimum wage increase.]
WMTW REPORTER, JIM CYR (VOICEOVER): United in song and in message, members of the Kennebec Valley Organization rode a bus they dubbed the ‘Wage Justice Express.’ They headed to the state capital ready to make their case.
FLOYD WHITMORE, KENNEBEC VALLEY ORGANIZATION: The working people, especially the older retired people and the young people with families – it’s hard for them to survive on the wages that they’re getting…
SR. ANGELA FORTIER, KENNEBEC VALLEY ORGANIZATION: I feel that this is very important, especially for the single mothers who do not earn enough money to take care of their own families…
[Shot of the bus parked in front of the State House, KVO leaders getting off and walking in, then various shots of groups of KVO leaders, identified by white and red “KVO” badges, speaking with state legislators in the hallway outside Senate chambers.]
REPORTER (VOICEOVER): Once inside they made those arguments to senators who will eventually be voting on the minimum wage bill.
[Sylvain speaking with Sen. Peter Mills, surrounded by 10 – 12 other KVO leaders.]
REPORTER (VOICEOVER): But they saved their loudest voices for Senator Peter Mills, a Republican candidate for Governor who says he opposes the minimum wage hike.
SYLVAIN: What about the single women, the mothers who are trying to support their kids on this?
MILLS: They need to get work –
SYLVAIN: And what about the adults –
MILLS: I’m familiar with it…
[Scenes of inside the Senate chambers]
REPORTER (VOICEOVER): The state’s already raised the wage $1.35 over the past four years, and Mills says another 50 cents would be too much at this time. Governor John Baldacci says he’d sign a minimum wage increase, but whether or not there are enough votes in the Senate to get it to his desk remains to be seen. In Augusta, Jim Cyr, News 8 WMTW.