Minimum Wage Laws

Ian Grant
9/17/2014

Minimum Wage Laws

   The U.S. is in terrible debt. Billions of dollars have been lost by our government and the citizens continue to suffer from it. Taxes and federal wage control are a main sources of funding used to chop away at this countries overall deficit, but cutting someones funds to fuel an ever expanding debt is wrong. Some states have just begun to realized the damage that comes with regulations on a workers earnings and have started to counter previous laws such as minimum wage laws.

   Efforts have been made by President Obama to increase the federal minimum wage to nine dollars per hour. Though this is only a slight increase, it acts as a symbol to the states that we need to start giving back to our citizens. It also puts pressure on the states and localities to take action.             Through economic trends and public sentiment, several states are will consider increases in 2014. Advocate parties (blue states such as Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts and Minnesota, lawmakers in Alaska, Idaho and South Dakota) are making the push to get legislations passed to increase wages.

As well as the presidential campaign supporters on wage including Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin who have been making moves towards combining a ballot measure with a legislative efforts to apply pressure to lawmakers. This action has had success in the past in Michigan.

"In recent years, California, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island have all passed hikes that raised the minimum wage above the federal $7.25-per-hour floor. Some cities are inclined to go further. Major cities with high costs of living could join San Francisco in setting much higher wages for service and other industries."

     http://www.governing.com/topics/politics/gov-2014-legislative-issues-to-watch.html

   It wont be much longer until every state is on board with this plan to raise wages. San Jose, being one of those major cities, has raised the minimum wage rate from nine to ten dollars per hour.
I being a worker in San Jose am grateful for the increase but I like many other employees believe this isn't enough. Not to be gluttonous citizens against our government but to simply be properly paid for the work and services we perform for this country daily.