A Campaign to 'Give America a Raise.'

A bus pulled into Greensboro Thursday morning, carrying representatives of a group pushing for a hike in the minimum wage. 

Greensboro's Beloved Community Center was a stop Thursday on the “Give America a Raise” Tour,  a cross-country bus trip sponsored by Americans United for Change, to urge Congress to raise the minimum wage.  "Americans United for Change is doing a 20-state bus tour across the country right now, because there's stories to tell from different folks about the minimum wage affects their life. But the main purpose of the bus tour is to tell our legislators that it's time to give America a raise," says Blake Williams, the group's traveling press secretary.

The raise they'd like would bring the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour up to $10.10 per hour.  Wednesday, Senate Republicans blocked a minimum wage hike, arguing that it would result in job losses, a claim disputed  by Americans United for Change.

"The overwhelming majority of studies have shown that a rise in the minimum wage, even during times of increased  unemployment, either has no effect on the unemployment rate, or actually decreases unemployment," Williams says.

GOP opponents cite a report from the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office saying that raising the minimum wage by that much could potentially reduce employment by approximately half a million workers over the next three years. Democrats believe the wage increase has widespread support and is a winning political issue heading into the November congressional elections. After a stop in Greensboro, the group headed for another appearance in Raleigh.