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WASHINGTON (AP) — Hundreds of religious leaders are urging Congress to raise the federal minimum wage.
The Senate is expected to vote Wednesday on the measure. It would gradually raise today's $7.25 hourly minimum to $10.10 over 30 months.
In a telephone news conference, the group Interfaith Worker Justice announced that a letter calling for passage of the legislation was signed by 350 religious leaders and more than 5,000 supporters and is being sent to members of Congress.
The Rev. James Perkins, vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, said the minimum wage should be increased because "the Bible commands us to treat the poor fairly, to not oppress the poor."
Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, said the Scriptures teach that "our society will be judged on how we treat the poor and the marginalized."
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247-a-13-(Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, in telephone news conference)-"in our country"-Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, says there's a biblical case for raising the minimum wage. ((note audio quality)) (29 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *247 (04/29/14)££ 00:13 "in our country"
248-a-09-(Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, in telephone news conference)-"demands we ask"-Father Larry Snyder, president of Catholic Charities USA, says it's immoral for people to be paid less than a living wage. ((note audio quality (29 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *248 (04/29/14)££ 00:09 "demands we ask"
249-a-05-(The Reverend James Perkins, vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, in telephone news conference)-"oppress the poor"-The Reverend James Perkins, vice president of the Progressive National Baptist Convention, says people of faith should support a higher minimum wage. ((note audio quality)) (29 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *249 (04/29/14)££ 00:05 "oppress the poor"
250-a-05-(Kim Bobo, executive director, Interfaith Worker Justice, in telephone news conference)-"the minimum wage"-Kim Bobo, executive director of Interfaith Worker Justice, says a letter calling for a high federal minimum wage has been signed by hundreds of religious leaders. ((note audio quality)) (29 Apr 2014)
<<CUT *250 (04/29/14)££ 00:05 "the minimum wage"
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