WASHINGTON, June 28 (UPI) -- Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean says raising the U.S. minimum wage is a moral principle because poverty is a moral problem.
Speaking to a conference of liberal Christians, the former Vermont governor described as economic "mumbo jumbo" that higher minimum wage would trigger higher unemployment, reports The Washington Times.
Dean was introduced to the 600-strong crowd by the Rev. Jim Wallis, founder of the liberal religious magazine Sojourners.
"This is a moral nation, so the first thing we must do is convince people that poverty is a moral problem," Dean told the crowd. "It is a moral principle to raise the minimum wage. It is nothing but economist mumbo jumbo to say raising it will hurt jobs."
The Times reported that Republican National Committee Chairman Ken Mehlman was invited to share the stage with Dean but that organizers said he had declined.
Christian Weller, senior economist at the Center for American Progress, said that a minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $7.25 would increase minimum wage earners' share of the nation's overall wealth, especially at a time when profits are at their highest levels.
