Let's move over to the Pacific Coast for a bit on the minimum wage battle. Washington has been a very liberal state for a while now.
At the beginning of 2001, they became the first state to incorporate the CPI to annually adjust their minimum wage by inflation. Seattle itself initiated a $15 minimum wage increase within its municipality over the span of 3-7 years. They became the second state after Colorado to legalize marijuana in all forms, intents and purposes. All the while many naysayers believed that both of these acts would lead to Washington's economic downfall. Well according to the statistics, the naysayers would be wrong.
Many politicians on the opposing side believe that increasing the minimum wage to such an unprecedented rate will lead to loss of jobs due to the inability for employers to pay their employees. However, the statistics as we see them today shine a different light on this claim. Since 2001 when Washington first implemented the inflation index in their minimum wage adjustment, there has been a steady decline in unemployment in the state of Washington outside of the brief recession period of 2008-2009. The same can be said for the employment growth in the state. Since 2001, there has been in increase in available jobs in Washington outside of the recession period as well.
It would seem that Washington has been doing something right all along in their progressive movements. Agree? Disagree? Comment your thoughts, the more the merrier. That is all I will present on this post, more to come in the future. D. Politopolous out.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Minimum Wage Wars- Battle of Pennsylvania
Minimum wage has been a long running topic of dispute for years in the US. Bills both state and federal have come in an attempt to remedy the issues regarding it, but unfortunately most never see the light of day. In Pennsylvania, the struggle has been ongoing since 2007, with bill after bill being blocked from making it to the governor's desk. But the supporters of a higher minimum wage certainly have not yet given up the fight.
In 2015, State representative Patty Kim, D-Dauphin, made announced her reintroduction of her legislation proposal, House Bill 250, to increase the Pennsylvania minimum wage to $10.10 over a two year period. The plan would first increase the minimum wage to $9 and 180 days after the plan is passed and then to $10.10 after a year.
On the current wage Pennsylvania pays out, the average person working a 40 hour work week makes about $15,080 annually. For a household of three, this is more then $4,000 below the poverty line of $19,790. If we were to add in two weeks unpaid vacation, that number would decrease to $14,500, more than $5,000 below the poverty line. Many of these households require assistance from government programs to make ends meet.
Should H.B 250 be passed, raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would make a 40 hour work week worth $21,008, just over $1,000 above the poverty line for a house of three. It is a small but reasonable stepping stone to the $15 desires of the middle-lower class constituents. PA Governor Tom Wolf has openly stated that he fully supports Kim's plan. President Obama is also a major support figure in this drive to increase minimum wage.
In short, the minimum wage increase advocacy is not short of supporters. They simply need more supporters in Congress to pass legislation, which will be difficult in a majority Republican Congress. The struggle continues.
That is all for this post. Look out for the next one soon. D. Politopolous out.
In 2015, State representative Patty Kim, D-Dauphin, made announced her reintroduction of her legislation proposal, House Bill 250, to increase the Pennsylvania minimum wage to $10.10 over a two year period. The plan would first increase the minimum wage to $9 and 180 days after the plan is passed and then to $10.10 after a year.
On the current wage Pennsylvania pays out, the average person working a 40 hour work week makes about $15,080 annually. For a household of three, this is more then $4,000 below the poverty line of $19,790. If we were to add in two weeks unpaid vacation, that number would decrease to $14,500, more than $5,000 below the poverty line. Many of these households require assistance from government programs to make ends meet.
Should H.B 250 be passed, raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would make a 40 hour work week worth $21,008, just over $1,000 above the poverty line for a house of three. It is a small but reasonable stepping stone to the $15 desires of the middle-lower class constituents. PA Governor Tom Wolf has openly stated that he fully supports Kim's plan. President Obama is also a major support figure in this drive to increase minimum wage.
In short, the minimum wage increase advocacy is not short of supporters. They simply need more supporters in Congress to pass legislation, which will be difficult in a majority Republican Congress. The struggle continues.
That is all for this post. Look out for the next one soon. D. Politopolous out.
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