Making more at minimum wage, 13 years ago

In 2005, state rep Jennifer Shilling led a public hearing on plans to raise Wisconsin’s minimum wage to $6.50 an hour.  The minimum was just $5.15 an hour at the time.  Retiring La Crosse Mayor John Medinger spoke of “haves” and “have-nots,” and argued that conservatives should want to put more money in the pockets of the poor.  Marilyn Wigdahl told the hearing that UW-L students have to work three jobs to keep up with college costs.  And local union leader Terry Hicks used words such as “immoral” and “slavery” to describe how costs had gone up in eight years, while the minimum wage had not.

What were gas prices like in 2005?  Web sites that watch gasoline trends say gas was priced at about $2 a gallon in Wisconsin, during the last half of January.  Minnesota prices were around $1.80.  By August, the average price of gas nationwide had climbed to a record high $2.50.

Members of the Thunderbirds Air Force flying team made a winter stop in La Crosse.  They visited the La Crosse Airport, and flew around the area in advance of their summer appearance at the Deke Slayton Airfest…13 years ago, 2005, yesterday in La Crosse.