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I found household income statistics from the USCB for the year 2013.

( http://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/library/publications/2014/demo/p60-249.pdf )


On page 23 they show data for 0-$15,000 and 15,000 to $25,000. Interpolating the data for $0 to $20,000 you will find that the 18.4 % of households have an income less than $20,000 (roughly equivalent to the new $10/hr min wage proposed.)


On page 30, the second row from the top shows that 20% of the households have an income less than $20.900. This is roughly consistent with the data on page 23.


These two figures show that the number of households affected by a $10 min wage is surprisingly close to the percentage of workers at minimum wage now.


In short, 18.4% of households would benefit from a minimum wage increase. That increase would take some of the burden off of federal expenditures, and put it on the companies where it belongs. If you prefer that  the market sets the price for labor, that will put a higher burden on welfare expenditures.


The actions that many conservatives would want - eliminate the minimum wage, and eliminate welfare - would be a double whammy and leave at least 18.4% of households with nowhere to turn.


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