The nonprofit Patriotic Millionaires is lobbying for higher taxes on the wealthy and an increased minimum wage through meetings with working-class individuals in Whiteville, North Carolina.
Lobbying in Whiteville: The group, which consists of wealthy members advocating for economic inequality reform, has been holding meetings in Whiteville to discuss tax reform and the minimum wage.
* The town was specifically chosen because it is in a swing state and has a minimum wage of $7.25 per hour, the same as the federal rate.
* The North Carolina state government has also barred cities from increasing their own minimum wage.
Background: The Patriotic Millionaires lobbied Congress for over a decade to create changes in economic inequality, however, higher taxes on the wealthy did not pass, even when Democrats controlled the Senate in 2021.
Local reactions: Many Whiteville residents who attended meetings expressed new understandings about the economic inequality issues the group presented and were motivated to join the cause.
Challenges: Economists are skeptical about the success of grassroots lobbying in influencing Republicans or raising minimum wages at the federal level, as minimum wage increases have already occurred at state and local levels.
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