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SDPB Radio Coverage of the South Dakota Legislature. See all coverage and find links to audio and video streams live from the Capitol at www.sdpb.org/statehouse

Minimum Wage Conversation

Democratic lawmakers in Pierre are urging a minimum wage increase in the state of South Dakota. State Representative Susan Wismer says the current minimum wage is not enough for a person to live on. Lieutenant Governor Matt Michels doesn't think increasing the minimum wage helps people. He says it hurts employers, who could in turn hire fewer workers.

"A single mom raised me as a special ed teacher, so there wasn’t a lot of money around. We had a number of people, different jobs and they paid minimum wage.  But there was also farm work and other pieces, that I personally know, if they had to pay a lot more, they would have hired less of us," the Lieutenant Governor says.

Michels says he’s open to the conversation because he wants what is best for the citizens of the state. Supporters are circulating a petition to put the minimum wage issue on the November ballot.

Nate Wek is currently the sports content producer and sports and rec beat reporter for South Dakota Public Broadcasting. He is a graduate of South Dakota State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Journalism Broadcasting and a minor in Leadership. From 2010-2013 Nate was the Director of Gameday Media for the Sioux Falls Storm (Indoor Football League) football team. He also spent 2012 and 2013 as the News and Sports Director of KSDJ Radio in Brookings, SD. Nate, his wife Sarah, and two kids Braxan and Jordy, live in Canton, SD.