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.
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.
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.