The following was written by Pat O’Connor and appeared in the Wichita Eagle on Friday, March 13th

Crazy wage story

Who would work for $2.65 an hour? State legislators don't get paid much, that is true. But would they work for $2.65 an hour? Would they send their sons or daughters to a job that paid that little? The House Commerce and Labor Committee is considering Senate Bill 160, which would raise the Kansas minimum wage to $7.25 an hour.

For some reason, Kansas is seen as backward by the rest of the nation. I live here and I've lived other places. I don't feel like we are backward. But any crazy news story that comes along with a Kansas dateline is prominently featured in the national media. Is having and defending the lowest minimum wage in the United States another such story?

Who would benefit directly from the wage increase? Twenty thousand Kansans. Who would benefit indirectly? The state. We would be seen as an even better, more humane place to live and raise a family. Urge legislators to pass the bill. Let's send some positive news out of our state.

PAT O'CONNOR

Wichita