For several years before the minimum wage referendum passed, the minimum wage was stagnant, and because other wages are based on the minimum wage, higher wages were stagnant too. The overall cost of living rose though, and many hardworking Mainers and their families were trapped in poverty. People employed full-time who still did not earn enough to afford many of life’s true necessities were forced to seek food charity and taxpayer-funded public assistance.

Nobody wants to be in that position. But tens of thousands of Mainers have to subsist on minimum wage. They take what jobs are available to them based on where they live and what qualifications they have. It is very difficult to earn a college degree while working full-time and raising young children or caring for elderly parents, especially while living paycheck to paycheck.

It’s been claimed that the minimum wage increase is a drag on small businesses. The truth is, most small businesses are already paying good wages. It’s the big, out-of-state corporations that tend to pay poverty wages. By increasing the minimum wage, we not only help our neighbors, we help to even the playing field between our small businesses and the large chains. They already get enough of our money while crushing small local stores.

Furthermore, the increase in labor costs for businesses is offset by boosted spending, as low wage earners need many things they haven’t been able to afford until now, and will tend to spend their additional earnings rather than sock it away in a bank account. They also pay a higher percentage of their income in sales taxes than higher earners do, boosting tax revenues. Higher wages build a stronger economy for everyone.

During my campaign, I have knocked on thousands of doors. Nearly everyone is working but very few have enough to pay for everything they must. For decades, the cost of living has risen much faster than real wages and for all of our work, our buying power is weak. Most business owners started out as wage earners, and appreciate what a blessing good employees are, as do the good people of Maine who voted for the wage increases. It is only right to receive good pay for good work.

Jason Putnam is the Democratic candidate for Maine State House District 87 (Wiscasset, Alna, Pittston and Randolph).