5 day forecast
Letters to the business editor
Share with others:
Something wrong with image
So CEO Bill Johnson from Heinz could get $56 million if he loses his job ("Heinz CEO Johnson Could Receive $56 Million 'Golden Parachute'," March 5) . On the same page is an article is about how Pittsburgh women making minimum wage are struggling to make ends meet.
Something is wrong with this picture!
CINDY HASKI
East Pittsburgh
Is this a joke, Washington?
With regard to "Pittsburgh-Area Women Tell of Trying To Make Ends Meet on Minimum Wage," March 5, am I to understand our government is spending taxpayers' money to send Mary Beth Maxwell, acting head of the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor, on the road to listen to workers' stories on how they make ends meet -- most likely fail to make ends meet -- earning a $7.25 per hour minimum wage.
Is this a joke? Ms. Maxwell acknowledges that, at the current minimum wage, a worker only makes $14,500 a year. Even if the minimum wage were increased to $9 an hour, the yearly salary would be only $18,000.
I'm sure neither Ms. Maxwell nor the members of Congress could live for even a month or two on that total amount. And they need to interview people to figure this out?
CELIA SHAPIRO
Squirrel Hill
Shift Pa. economic policies
Despite the spin from Julia Hearthway, secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, under Gov. Tom Corbett, we have seen massive cuts to public education, higher taxes and a stagnant economy. Since Mr. Corbett took office, Pennsylvania has gone from seventh in the nation in job growth to 34th while another study said that Pennsylvania was the eighth-worst state for business.
Mr. Corbett's economic policies are squeezing middle class families, and they are clearly not working -- just look at the numbers. Mr. Corbett and Ms. Hearthway need to change course and start backing policies that help middle class families and grow the economy.
JIM BURN
Pennsylvania Democratic Party chairman
First Published March 9, 2013 12:00 am
