Raise the Federal Minimum Wage Rate

The US Census Bureau says nearly 12% of the America population lives in poverty. That is nearly According to North Carolina QuickFacts from the US Census Bureau between 2007 and 2011,16.1% of North Carolina residents live in poverty. If a person works for minimum wage at 7.25/hr for 40hrs/week you will earn just enough, 13920 dollars to be exact, putting you slightly above the federally defined poverty level and this is before the government takes their cut of your pay.
Increasing minimum wage could give people the ability to provide for themselves thus lessen the burden put on the government assistance programs, leaving more government monies for other federally funded programs