SENATE BILL: Living Wage Act (law'd)

[Senator North Carolina Yankee]

I offer the following amendment as an addition to the current text.

4) All employers that earn less then $500,000 a year in Gross Income, will be allowed to deduct 15% of the increased labor costs, resulting from the increase in the minimum wage, for the first 12 months of it being in effect. Qualification for the said deduction will be dependent upon no terminations of employment, for the purpose of downsizing, occuring during the period in which this deduction is claimed, unless currently in bankrupcty restructuring or has been losing money for atleast one quarter prior to the termination.

[bgwah]

^ That's probably fine with me. What do you think, Mary?

[Senator Napoleon]

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

[President Marokai]

^ That's probably fine with me. What do you think, Mary?

Totally. <3

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

I have.. concerns about that. But I won't outright oppose it if Bgwah doesn't.

[asexual trans victimologist]

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

I think this makes more sense, but I'm still not necessarily supportive of any age cutoff in the first place.

[bgwah]

Both sponsors have accepted this as friendly. Senators have 24 hours to object.

4) All employers that earn less then $500,000 a year in Gross Income, will be allowed to deduct 15% of the increased labor costs, resulting from the increase in the minimum wage, for the first 12 months of it being in effect. Qualification for the said deduction will be dependent upon no terminations of employment, for the purpose of downsizing, occuring during the period in which this deduction is claimed, unless currently in bankrupcty restructuring or has been losing money for atleast one quarter prior to the termination.

[bgwah]

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

While this is what I initially preferred, I want this to pass, and the President was opposed to 21...

[Senator Napoleon]

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

While this is what I initially preferred, I want this to pass, and the President was opposed to 21...

I feel like we could override a veto.

[bgwah]

The amendment passed as friendly.


I have mixed feelings on the age aspect, and I think it would just be best to have a vote on Napoleon's amendment...

Senators, please vote aye, nay, or abstain on the following amendment:

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

[Snowguy716]

I remind you if the age is returned to 21, I will veto it.  A veto override will definitely chill relations between the presidency and the senate as you will have completely removed any reason for compromise by simply overriding my veto.

There is no good case to have the arbitrary age of 21 for a living wage to kick in.  What do you tell to 19 year olds with a kid or that just want to be financially independent?

WHy are we extending some aspects of adolescence into a person's early 20s (financial independence) while leaving other civic duties and responsibilities behind (like military service or voting)?

I have yet to see a good reason for this, other than that somehow companies will magically hire all sorts of 18-20 year olds because they can pay them less.  That's ridiculous.  All you will do is throw these people back out on the streets when they turn 21 and all the fresh college grads come in with their degrees to compete with the already working crowd.

I know in this day and age it seems almost impossible that there are 18-20 year olds out there raising families and working and struggling to be financially independent... but it is the case for a lot of Atlasians.

Unless there is a proposal to freely provide a university education to every student, thus extending fully the period of adolescence, or the age 18 level is maintained, I will veto this bill.

The 18 age level makes sense because at 18 you become an adult.  You are finishing high school and are expected to move out into the world, be that college or work.  I understand paying 14-17 year olds that work part time a lesser wage, since they can depend on their parents for basic support... but we are creating a donut hole here that many 18-20 year olds will fall through.

So, do what you will.  But if the bill arrives on my desk with an age over 18... I will veto it and I won't forget it either.

[President Marokai]

Snowguy is right. I was uneasy about the idea of reinstating the 21 age restriction, and for good reason. His argument is compelling and has brought me out of the silly idea of compromise.

Senators, please vote aye, nay, or abstain on the following amendment:

I'm offering an amendment to change 18 back to 21.

I vote Nay.

[Jbrase]

I would prefer it at 21, sorry Snowy

Aye

[asexual trans victimologist]

Nay. The President has convinced me.

[Senator Napoleon]

Abstain

[bgwah]

Nay.

[VP Duke]

Nay. It would be silly to make it 21 considering 18 is the age you become an adult. Not everyone goes to college and gets plastered every weekend

[Proud Lieberal from Northeast]

Nay

[Wrecking Ball and Chain]

Nay

[bgwah]

Amendment tally: 1-6-1, with 2 non-voting abstentions

The amendment has been rejected. Debate resumes.

[bgwah]

Final vote. Please vote aye, nay, or abstain.

Living Wage Act
1) The federal minimum wage for those ages 18 and over shall be raised to $10.50 on January 1st, 2012 and to $12.00 on July 1st, 2012.
2) After the second raise, inflation-adjusted increases shall continue to occur as mandated in the Reasonable Minimum Wage Act.
3) The federal minimum wage will be unaffected for those under age 18.
4) All employers that earn less then $500,000 a year in Gross Income, will be allowed to deduct 15% of the increased labor costs, resulting from the increase in the minimum wage, for the first 12 months of it being in effect. Qualification for the said deduction will be dependent upon no terminations of employment, for the purpose of downsizing, occuring during the period in which this deduction is claimed, unless currently in bankrupcty restructuring or has been losing money for atleast one quarter prior to the termination.

AYE.

[President Marokai]

Aye.

[VP Duke]

Aye

[President Marokai]

Aye

You Socialist, you. <3

[Senator Napoleon]

Aye.

This bill will reduce some of my region's competitive disadvantages with growth and the labor market.

[asexual trans victimologist]

Aye to this timely and humane bill.