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Editorial: It's time to raise federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour - Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times ^ | Sept. 2, 2024 3 AM PT | The Times Editorial Board

Posted on 09/04/2024 6:17:46 PM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum

It’s been 15 years since workers earning the federal minimum wage got a raise. The cost of living has gone up more than 45% since then, with rents and home prices rising faster than incomes in most regions of the country. Yet the nation’s wage floor has stayed stuck at $7.25 an hour.

That is poverty pay, and an increase to the federal minimum wage is long overdue. It’s mind-boggling that Congress has gone so long without making even modest adjustments to help the lowest-paid workers. This is the longest stretch of time without an increase to the federal minimum wage since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Fair Labor Standards Act in 1938, which established the right to a minimum wage.

Certainly there have been some attempts to lift the wage floor. Most recently Democrats floated the Raise the Wage Act of 2023 that would have gradually increased minimum pay to $17 by 2028. Republicans countered with $11 phased in over four years. Neither proposal has moved forward.

As part of her economic plan, Vice President Kamala Harris has called on Congress to send her a bill raising the minimum wage. She supported $15 an hour during the 2020 election, but hasn’t named a number this time.

Donald Trump, not surprisingly, has sent conflicting messages on raising the minimum wage over the years. In 2016, he said he wanted to raise the federal rate to at least $10, but later said minimum wage hikes should be left to the states, which is effectively what’s happening now.

Some 30 states and the District of Columbia have enacted higher wage floors, and many cities, including Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City, have adopted higher base pay than their states in recognition that it...

(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...


TOPICS: Humor; Weird Stuff
KEYWORDS: california; californication; laslimes; losangelesslimes; minimumwage
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To: econjack
This is the ultimate “get off my lawn” issue for old people. Really disgusting.
41 posted on 09/05/2024 5:23:05 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: central_va
We can’t have $2 million dollar US made hammers....

They're willing to give it a shot!


42 posted on 09/05/2024 5:30:17 AM PDT by COBOL2Java (The country bounces along like Custer on the way to Little Big Horn, thanks to Dear Leader)
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To: Steve_Seattle

No one is expected to “live” on $1,160 a month.

This is an entry wage for very young, beginning workers. That’s it.


43 posted on 09/05/2024 5:34:03 AM PDT by fwdude
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To: quantim

“Just the opposite, it’s time to pay federal workers $7.25 an hour. And no benefits for the first five years.”

That gets my vote ... !!

Also I support term limits (8yrs?) for FedGov employees that are E4(?) and higher. Serve your country and then go get a real job.


44 posted on 09/05/2024 5:36:21 AM PDT by ByteMercenary (Cho Bi Dung and KamalHo are not my leaders.)
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To: Steve_Seattle

Implicit in your assumption is the fact that people in an area with a high cost of living will accept a job at the minimum allowable.

The fact is, the market controls the wage level.


45 posted on 09/05/2024 5:36:50 AM PDT by bert ( (KE. NP. +12) Where is ZORRO when California so desperately needs him?)
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To: central_va

Sorry, but that’s just nonsense, see post 33.

Food was a lot cheaper back when the minimum wage was much higher relatively speaking.

Todays minimum wage has maybe 60% of the buying power minimum wage had in 1971, and about 30% less buying power than it did in 1987.

Even fast food pricing shows this.... in 1987 a Big Mac cost 1.60 with minimum wage being 3.35 or about 47% of 1 hours worth of pay.

today its 5.29 with minimum wage at 7.25 or just shy of 73% of an hours worth of pay.

Minimum wage purchasing power is around 60% of what it was in 1971 and about 78% of what it was in 1987.


46 posted on 09/05/2024 6:06:33 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: bert

See post 33.

Some markets may require higher to get employees that the fed minimum wage, but its inexcuable that the min wage today is roughly 60% of what it was in 1971 and 78% of what it was in 1987.

Just treat minimum wage like SS.. tie it to inflation, automatically adjust it annually and be done with this nonsense every election year.


47 posted on 09/05/2024 6:08:17 AM PDT by HamiltonJay
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To: HamiltonJay

I guess I should have used the /sarc tag.....


48 posted on 09/05/2024 8:04:20 AM PDT by central_va (I won't be reconstructed and I do not give a damn...)
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To: bert
The fact is, the market controls the wage level.

Correct - in my area the effective minimum wage is already $18/hour. $20+ for people who are actually employable.

The Federal minimum wage may be operative in certain small areas, but anywhere the economy is still functioning it is an afterthought. The pressure to raise it comes from unions, who all have contracts tied to it and want instant raises (and more dues coming in, allowing bigger contributions to a certain political party) for their members.

49 posted on 09/05/2024 8:11:09 AM PDT by Mr. Jeeves ([CTRL]-[GALT]-[DELETE])
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