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Living wage?

- Sara Weinberger: Still not a ‘living wage,’ but higher minimum wage sorely needed, GazetteNet.com, December 16, 2013.

3. Kevin Burgos works full-time, earns more than the minimum wage and even fixes cars on the side to bring in extra money to support his family.

Yet, it’s barely enough to cover his basic living expenses, and Burgos finds himself in a $600 hole each month.

Burgos’ situation represents the woeful inadequacy of minimum wage and what could be a central question in the income inequality debates -- what is a person’s living wage?

For Burgos, it would mean an additional $6.50 an hour over what he makes now.

Currently, he makes $10.50 per hour as an assistant manager at Dunkin Donuts in Hartford, Connecticut. It's well above both the federal and state minimum wages of $7.25 and $8.70, respectively. It’s even more than the $10.10 per hour wage that Senate Democrats are fighting for. He brings in an extra $400 each month by fixing cars on the side.

He works 35 hours each week to support his family of three young children. All told, Burgos makes about $1,800 each month.

But his bills for basic necessities, including rent for his two-bedroom apartment, gas for his car, diapers and visits to the doctor, add up to $2,400. To cover these expenses without falling short, Burgos would need to make at least $17 per hour.