Minimum Wage goin' up on a Thursday (in 21 states, benefits 3.1 million)

[Clarko95 📚💰📈]

Source 1: http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2015/0101/With-21-states-raising-minimum-wage-2015-is-a-tipping-point

Source 2: http://thehill.com/policy/finance/228349-minimum-wage-to-rise-for-31-million

Workers rejoice! Effective today, January 1, 2015**, 21 states have enacted an increase in their minimum wages. This means that for the first time, more than half of the states (29) will have a minimum wage higher than the federal one. The highest state-level wage will be Washington state's $9.47/hour, while a multitude of cities will go even higher: Seattle & San Francisco will eventually increase their's to $15/hour, while Chicago's will go to $13 by 2019). 3.1 million will immediately be affected this year, in addition to nearly 4 million who have seen raises since early 2013, for a total of 7 million in just two years.

- For the first time, Arkansas, Hawaii, Maryland, Nebraska, South Dakota, and West Virginia will have minimum wages above the federal level.

 - Alaska, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island, and Vermont already had their's above the federal wage and will raise it again. The District of Columbia will also see a rise in 2015.

 - Additionally,  Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio, Oregon, and Washington will see automatic inflation-based increases.

**Technically, Alaska will have a raise in February, Delware will rise to $8.25 on June 1, while DC's is mid-year.

Minnesota's will rise to $9.50 by 2016, Michigans to $9.25 by 2018, DC to $11.50 by 2016, and California to $10 by 2016.

According to the Pew Research Center in collaboration with the Department of Labor, half of minimum wage earners are younger than 25 and 2/3 are part-time. Last year, 1.5 million hourly workers earned the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour, and about 1.8 million others earned even less (legally, that can happen for tipped employees, full-time students, and certain disabled workers). Since the start of the economic recovery, 43% of new jobs created through July have been in low-wage industries, which employ 2.3 million more workers now than they did at the start of the recession. Average pay has risen just 2.1% over the past 12 months, only slightly better than inflation.

The increases will generate $826.8 million in new economic growth, according to an analysis of Census data by the Economic Policy Institute.

The federal minimum wage was last raised to $7.25/hour in 2009, and the tipped wage has remained at $2.13/hour since 1991.

[windjammer]

[AggregateDemand]

State min wage is rising (at the expense of jobs) because the federal government is too stupid to fix the EITC.

More pointless suffering for the lower-middle class, especially the unskilled youngs.

[user12345]

When the federal government won't act, the states will.

[IceSpear]

In a country that continually votes for higher minimum wage, gay marriage, pot legalization, against Personhood, against union busting legislation, etc. Republicans sure do get a lot more support than you'd expect. Must be the football team mentality.

[Indy Texas]

State min wage is rising (at the expense of jobs) because the federal government is too stupid to fix the EITC.

More pointless suffering for the lower-middle class, especially the unskilled youngs.

In what universe is someone making minimum wage considered "lower-middle class"?

[Lambsbread]

Where tf is Pennsylvania

[The_Doctor]

I feel this could be about the best time for the minimum wage to rise, maybe. It might be the best time because simply put, with the tightening labor market, wages will be naturally rising (or will soon, in short order). The people this will hurt the most are 16-25 and need these jobs, but the labor market might be tight enough to get them these jobs, regardless of the minimum wage hikes. And I realize this is sort of liberal to say (ugh), but the hikes might help accelerate the rise in paychecks a bit, which could help the economy. (Mind you, I think the minimum wage is bad in economic downturns).

Given that, I'm not as upset with this as I would be otherwise.

[Small Business Owner of Any Repute]

The people this will hurt the most are 16-25 and need these jobs,

The idea that we'll suddenly have a shortage of minimum wage jobs is ridiculous. If you need a minimum wage job, you shouldn't have a problem finding one in pretty short order even if the minimum jumps to $9. These jobs are so terrible that there's constant turnover in them.

[memphis]

State min wage is rising (at the expense of jobs) because the federal government is too stupid to fix the EITC.

More pointless suffering for the lower-middle class, especially the unskilled youngs.

In what universe is someone making minimum wage considered "lower-middle class"?

The same world where minimum wage jobs are hard to find. Back here in reality, minimum wage jobs are everywhere. A simple neighborhood strip mall or big box store offers hundreds of them. We're nowhere near the point where min wage driven unemployment is a thing. I'm reminded of the same delusional right wingers who are convinced that out of control inflation is also a contemporary scourge on our nation.

[AggregateDemand]

In what universe is someone making minimum wage considered "lower-middle class"?

In the real economy, where the government works to stimulate employment (or at least take a "hands off" approach), rather than suppress employment and print money to prevent total economic collapse.

The only way a 40/hr work-week can lead to a life of near-poverty is if the government actively interferes to the detriment of the employee.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Thanks Obama!

[Slander and/or Libel]

In what universe is someone making minimum wage considered "lower-middle class"?

In the real economy, where the government works to stimulate employment (or at least take a "hands off" approach), rather than suppress employment and print money to prevent total economic collapse.

The only way a 40/hr work-week can lead to a life of near-poverty is if the government actively interferes to the detriment of the employee.

Can we please see your monthly budget for how to live the life of luxury on minimum wage?