Tell your representatives:

This is America, where growth comes from the middle out, not the top down. People want to be working hard and earning a decent wage that can support a family. To do that we need to put more money in the pockets of hardworking Americans, not continue the failed "trickle down" policies of the last decade that lined the pockets of the rich and left most American families worse off.

A higher minimum wage gives working families more money to spend, which in turn gives our community businesses more customers. SB681, which will raise the minimum wage, will help our families and give our economy the shot in the arm it needs now by generating a total wage increase in Virginia of $1,126,776,000 and a GDP impact of $713,249,000.

We can renew the promise of the American dream to working families through eliminating the barriers of income inequality and getting to a minimum wage that ensures every family can make ends meet. You might not have been aware, but the majority of low-wage workers are over 25 years old and working full time. In fact, 368,000 full time workers would be affected by raising the wage. It would also lift the household income of over 300,000 children.

Anyone who shows up every day and works hard so their company can make a profit ought to make enough to pay their own bills. Please join me in supporting SB681.