Oklahoma Stonewall Democrats announced a $1,000 donation to the RAISE OKLAHOMA petition drive to raise the state minimum wage. A well funded, successful campaign will put the question on the November, 2006 ballot for voter approval.

The idea for this Oklahoma campaign first came out of The Local Democracy for America Group, and it's a smart move.

For years, the Republicans have been using strategic ballot measures to mobilize their base and get out the Republican vote on election day (often at our expense). Here is an opportunity for Democrats to mobilize their base as well as improve the lives of many people in Oklahoma.

Nearly 15 percent of Oklahomans live in poverty. Even a person working a full-time job for minimum wage ($5.15 per hour) is not able to earn enough to make it out of poverty. The ballot measure would increase the minimum wage by $2 over two years, and tie future annual increases to inflation. Smart move.