Lawmakers are public servants, and they should not make a profit while their people are struggling. It's time to pressure the US government to set forth legislation requiring our state lawmakers to live off of the median wage they have helped to set and maintain. 

Currently, the highest US state median wage is in D.C.; the District of Columbia has the highest median wage/income, with a median annual income for individuals of roughly $91,540. The federal minimum wage in the US stands at $7.25 per hour, which many individuals across the country struggle to subsist on. Meanwhile, the minimum salary for US state lawmakers is a staggering $174,000 per year. In contrast, the current average salary for a US citizen is approximately $66,622 annually. This disparity highlights a disconnect between the lawmakers and the constituents they serve, many of whom face financial hardships daily. 

Our elected officials work for the people, yet their hefty salaries suggest a significant divide. Living off the median wage would provide lawmakers with firsthand experience of the challenges faced by many Americans, promoting empathy and informed decision-making when setting economic policies. 

Implementing this change is realistic and actionable. By aligning lawmakers’ salaries with the annual median wage of their respective states, we can ensure they truly understand the financial pressures facing average citizens. This will promote greater accountability and ensure that legislation is created with a genuine understanding of its impact on everyday lives. 

Join this movement to remind our legislators that they are accountable to the people who elected them. It's time for lawmakers to experience the realities of those they represent. Sign this petition and help create a government that works for everyone, not just a privileged few. Let's make a difference together by ensuring fair representation and equity in our legislation. We need your support today to bring about this necessary change. Please sign and share this petition to make your voice heard. Together, we can achieve this crucial reform.

Note: this was original pushing for state minimum wage and I changed it to median wage because someone smarter than me opened my eyes to the negative effects that will follow that course of action. We need our lawmakers to be competent and make more than an entry level position would if we expect them to be educated on important matters. Setting their salaries at state median wage is more than reasonable seeing as though they have the power to increase the overall well-being of their constituents on average through effective people-first policy. I’m angry about the conditions we find ourselves in, but I want this to lead to real change that could actually help us grow as a country. (If this goes well, I’m going for federal minimum wage next) - Dylan