Workers with a full-time job at the federal minimum wage of $7.25 make less than the federal poverty level. Despite supporting increases to the minimum wage in the past, neither presidential candidate is talking about it. States, eighteen of which have minimum wages higher than that of the federal government, are looking to increase on their own. Eight states raised their minimum wages this year, with others in the process of doing so. Advocates of raising minimum wages say that doing so increases consumer spending, while opponents say that it burdens businesses. Several pieces of legislation to raise the minimum wage have been introduced in Congress.
See "Activists seek increase in federal minimum wage", Tony Pugh, Kansas City Star, July 23, 2012