Rally to Raise Minimum Wage Targets Rep. Young

At 1 p.m. today at the office of Rep. C.W. Bill Young, protesters will be continuing to voice their displeasure with Young's previous comments to a protester to when he was asked about raising minimum wage. 

According to a Florida Consumer Action Network news release, today's rally in Pinellas, and in more than30 other communities nationwide, residents will hold rallies to call on Congress to raise the minimum wage and close the gap.

On Tuesday, community members will join together with low-wage workers to call on Rep. Bill Young to support legislation to raise the federal minimum wage to $10 an hour. They will present the Congressman with more 1,000 petitions signed by voters asking him to support a raise in the minimum wage, a news release said.

Florida's minimum wage pays $7.67 an hour, slightly above the federal level of $7.25.

“We’ve been to his office multiple times this year in an attempt to meet with him,” said Peggy Goodale, a Largo resident in a news release. “His staff is always very nice, but the Congressman never follows through.”

Earlier this month, the man told to "get a job", from the Young for the comments. 

"I would like an apology for not only myself but for low wage workers around the country," Kovanis told Patch. "I think he has insulted them with his remarks to ‘get a job’. I think that he has failed his responsibilities as a representative. He is suppose to listen to his constituents not belittle them."

He said while $10 an hour is not great, it is much better than what is available now. 

"It’s a livable wage. It would definitely benefit anyone who is making under it," he said. "It would increase the quality of life for millions of people. It would help out our local economy. Give people extra spending money and they in turn would use at our local businesses, who in turn would hire more people." 

But, according to Saint Petersblog, Kovanis might not be the best poster child for political action because of his lengthy criminal record. 

According to Saint Petersblog, Kovanis:

"In October of 2006, Kovanis was charged with unlawful use of driver’s license, violating the probation he was on for an earlier charge of felony criminal mischief.  He violated this probation again in 2007.

2007 wasn’t a good year for Kovanis, who was arrested that year for DUI and possession of marijuana. That was his second DUI — the first he committed in 2004.

After these difficult years, Kovanis got swept up in the Occupy movement and was arrested in 2011 for obstructing a sidewalk."

If you go to the Rally:

• Tuesday, 1 p.m.
• Rep. Bill Young's District Office, 9210 113th St. N., Seminole