Politicians struggle to ‘live the wage’

For one week, politicians nationwide are living on a minimum wage budget, about $77 after housing expenses and taxes, to garner support for a congressional push to raise the federal minimum wage by three dollars. But some think the “Live the Wage Challenge” is actually backfiring — showing that lawmakers are not only out-of-touch with the minimum wage worker, but with average-income Americans too.

Organized by activist group Americans United for Change, the “Live the Wage Challenge” calls upon elected officials to “walk in the shoes of a minimum wage worker” and to experience first-hand “how little the minimum wage provides a working family in this country.”

Pictures of politicians eating and budgeting their way through the “Live the Wage Challenge” have already exploded on Twitter.

Rep. Mark Takano (D–CA 41st District) shared a picture of his “Live the Wage” groceries:

Ted Strickland, former governor of Ohio, posted a picture of his “Live the Wage” dinner:

And Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D – IL) posted a picture of her “Live the Wage” menu.

But Schakowsky’s menu quickly provoked a backlash from twitterers who said that Schakowsky’s “poverty diet” actually closely resembles the diets of most average Americans.

“Thx for proving that it can be done. Looks good and healthy,” wrote one Twitterer.

“We make $140k and that’s more than we eat each week. Guess I’m officially a peasant!” exclaimed another.

Others have cited the “Live the Wage Challenge” as proof that politicians just aren’t all that great at planning ahead and budgeting.

The “Live the Wage Challenge” will run from July 24th-July 30th.