Raise minimum wage?

Utahns earning the minimum wage have been making $5.15 an hour since 1997, but that could change as a result of a new look at the issue by Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.

"Even though I'm a good Republican, I'm a little bit concerned that during the course of (seven) years, we've seen no adjustment in the minimum wage," the governor said. "I'm open to some recommendations."

Huntsman has established a new task force to decide whether it's time to boost the earnings of those at the bottom of the pay scale, after being criticized for signing legislation banning local governments from giving preference to vendors that pay what's known as a living wage.

A living wage, defined as enough money to meet the basic needs of a worker and his or her dependents, is several dollars higher than the minimum wage. Lawmakers had already stopped communities from establishing living wages for residents.

Advocates for the state's disadvantaged residents don't expect to see a living wage in Utah anytime soon. But they say increasing the minimum wage would be a good start to making life better for the working poor.

"We recognize there's probably not the political will to implement a living wage in the state of Utah at this time," Pam Silberman, welfare and work supports policy analyst for Utah Issues, said. "Raising the minimum wage would certainly impact the working poor."

She estimated some 35,000 Utah workers earn the minimum wage. To make ends meet, those workers often end up having to take second jobs and apply for public assistance for help with health care and other basic needs.

Silberman said the minimum wage would need to go to $7 an hour to give workers the same buying power as the 1968 rate of $1.60 an hour had. That means even a $1.85 hike in the minimum wage would only be keeping pace with inflation.

"You're pretty much keeping pace. It's certainly not a living wage," Silberman said. "The purchasing power of the federal minimum wage has slipped since 1968." Like many states, Utah has set its minimum wage at the federal rate.

That's changing, though, since Congress has rejected several attempts to increase the federal rate in recent years. Huntsman said some 31 states, including Nevada, have either raised their minimum wage or are considering taking action.

Voters in Nevada, for example, approved an initiative petition last year that would raise the state's $5.15-an-hour rate by $1. To take effect, the petition must be approved by voters a second time in 2006, but Nevada lawmakers may go ahead and increase the rate this year.