From KCRW in Santa Monica and PRI, Public Radio International, this is To the Point.

Is it time to increase the minimum wage?

Hello again, I'm Aran Alney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

President Obama wants Congress to give America a raise, but Republicans say that the issues Americans care about most. President Obama wants Congress

to give America a raise, but Republicans say that would be a disaster for small business.

But even if Washington fails to increase the minimum wage, states and cities already are acting on

their own, along with a major employer, Gap Clothing. The Congressional Budget Office warns

a federal hike might cost 500,000 jobs to

disappear. At the same time, almost a million people could be lifted out of poverty. We'll look

at what's happening around the country and the potential consequences for this year's

congressional elections. Today's talking point. What's next for Ukraine? We'll hear the latest from

Kiev and Moscow. First, here's the news.

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Hello again, Mormon. I'll be back with To the Point. Advocates for increasing the federal minimum wage call it a stimulus program paid for not by government, but the private sector. Opponents warn of lost jobs and hard times for small business. We'll hear that some cities, states, and even some big companies are increasing wages as debate goes on in Washington.

Today's talking point, Ukraine's President Viktor Yonokovych is a fugitive in his own country,

and demonstrators in Kiev are demanding new people in power.

How is the U.S. responding? What's the reaction in Moscow?

First is news update. Pentagon's spending on personnel has skyrocketed since September 11th.

Robert Gates, former Defense Secretary for both George W. Bush and Barack Obama,

...