Wage numbers not equal comparison

Regarding Thomas Gerhold's May 22 letter, 'Obama misleads with minimum-wage data”:

Gerhold scolded President Barack Obama for using misleading statistics on his proposed minimum wage increase. The president stated that 28 million Americans would get a wage increase. The writer correctly stated that the Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that 1.6 million earned exactly the prevailing federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour. About 2 million had wages below the federal minimum.

My guess is that many of those who make between the minimum wage and the proposed minimum wage also will get a wage bump - most likely the bulk of the 28 million.

Shame on the letter writer for posting false propaganda and shame on The Gazette for not vetting this 'apples and oranges” comparison.

DeWayne Heintz

Cedar Rapids