Posted on 11/14/2026 5:53:38 AM PST by MinorityRepublican
Democrats are pushing major minimum-wage increases after their midterm victories, but economists warn the proposals could come with unintended consequences for small businesses and inexperienced workers.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro is pledging to more than double his state's $7.25 minimum wage, while Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker is calling for a federal increase as Democrats make affordability a central part of their governing agenda.
The renewed push comes as Seattle, which has one of the nation's highest minimum wages, faces concerns about rising business costs and employment opportunities — raising questions about the tradeoffs of higher wage mandates.
"We’re going to more than double Pennsylvania‘s minimum wage," Shapiro wrote in an X post this month. "Codify abortion rights into our state Constitution. Fund mass transit. Build more housing. These are the commonsense things that Pennsylvanians want done."
"And with a Democratic trifecta, we will deliver on all of them," he continued.
Shapiro's proposal would raise Pennsylvania's minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 an hour, an increase of roughly 107%, prompting questions about how small businesses would absorb the additional labor costs.
Tom Savidge, an economist with the American Institute for Economic Research, warned in an interview with Fox News Digital that steep wage increases could force small businesses to raise prices, reduce workers' hours or cut back on hiring.
"A federal minimum wage hike will worsen the affordability crisis," Savidge told Fox News Digital. "A one-size-fits-all mandate ignores regional differences in wages and business costs. It risks higher prices, fewer hours, and fewer jobs, especially for inexperienced workers. Politicians can mandate higher wages, but they cannot mandate that businesses can afford to pay them."
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Dear FRiends,
We need your continuing support to keep FR funded. Your donations are our sole source of funding. No sugar daddies, no advertisers, no paid memberships, no commercial sales, no gimmicks, no tax subsidies. No spam, no pop-ups, no ad trackers.
If you enjoy using FR and agree it's a worthwhile endeavor, please consider making a contribution today:
Click here: to donate by Credit Card
Or here: to donate by PayPal
Or by mail to: Free Republic, LLC - PO Box 9771 - Fresno, CA 93794
Thank you very much and God bless you,
Jim
Stop importing cheap labor and wages would go up
Under current conditions, the minimum wage is a price support for illegal alien labor.
Yep.
Yup.
Correct. Illegals will the largest beneficiaries of a minimum wage increase. Citizens will be punished by being fired and replaced. H1B is just a legal form of this. All by design to screw and replace Americans with slaves.
“...unintended consequences...”
Has there ever been ANYTHING proposed by Socialist Democrats that ISN’T gift wrapped in unintended consequences?
Show me one example. Just one. ;)
Um...check France. They can even mandate that you keep incompetent employees on the payroll indefinitely.
Any "job" under a collectivist government becomes a public/private partnership with the state having the final say on how its property is employed, compensated, and retained.
As a practical matter, small businesses already have to pay at least double the minimum wage to find employees capable of adding any value. So the practical effect of this legislation will be nothing more than the usual political propaganda.
15 is about right. Then increase it every year with the same cola as SS. Call me a commie if you want and flame on.
I am tired of giving this issue to the left.
“unintended consequences”
Nope. Fully intended. The Demscum plan is to destroy small businesses. Part of the socialist/communist agenda. Author should read some history.
“We’re going to more than double Pennsylvania‘s minimum wage.....
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
...while keeping sanctuary status intact and making sure controls on underpaid illegal foreign labor stay lax.
It doesn’t matter if the minimum wage is $15 or $115. All prices will go up to meet that wage and add in a profit. Then that starts the cycle all over again.
In a few decades of this the minimum wage will be $500 and a loaf of bread will be $200................
The public is too stupid to understand wage increase effects. All they know is “the rich” own everything, and they deserve some of it. When it all goes sideways, the blame will be placed on Republicans. That’s where we are.
You just gave it to the Left by agreeing with them.
Even if you agree with the basic premise, it should be handled at the state level seeing as states have different costs of living
SMALL BUSINESSES WILL LAY OFF ACCORDINGLY.
REMAINING EMPLOYEES WILL HAVE TO WORK HARDER-—OR FACE LAYOFF, ALSO
THEN THE “MINIMUM WAGE” IS ZERO....
GUARANTEE IT.
TODAY’S PAMPERED SNOWFLAKES CANNOT “WORK” TO SAVE THEIR NECKS
Somebody ought to explain to these nitwits that if you raise the cost of labor the price of things will go up, ie, become less affordable.
And if you raise the minimum wage all other wage segments will also go up, further increasing prices.
Of course.
Minimum wage is like shooting yourself in the foot.
Give ‘em a couple of yers and Democrats will dig their own grave.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.