It’s a historic day in California with the state’s minimum wage expected to increase to $15 an hour and triggering much doom and gloom among conservatives in the state. Here’s what the LA Times had to say about the bill Governor Brown will sign on Monday:
Under the plan, the state’s hourly minimum wage would increase from the current $10 to $10.50 on Jan. 1, 2017, then to $11 the following year, and increase by $1 annually until 2022.
Businesses with fewer than 26 employees would get an additional year to comply, and Brown and his successors could delay the increases by one year in the case of an economic downturn. Assuming no pauses, the minimum wage would increase each year based on inflation starting in 2024.
All but two Democrats — Assembly members Tom Daly of Anaheim and Adam Gray of Merced — voted for the increase, and not a single Republican in either chamber voted for the measure. Both raised concerns about the automatic cost-of-living increases that would raise the wage higher than $15 an hour as soon as 2024.
The plan passed the state Assembly earlier Thursday, 48 to 26, after opponents complained it was rushed and did not include a wide group at the negotiating table during what at times was an emotional debate in both houses of the Legislature.
Democratic lawmakers exhorted their colleagues to think of the difficulties of working families in a state with large income inequality and high housing costs.
So Daly was one of two Democrats who voted “no?” We asked his office for an explanation and got one.
“Since I came to the Capitol in 2012, I have made it clear that I agree with and support smart and careful increases in the minimum wage,” said Daly. “I have also made it clear that I do not support indexing the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index. I supported the minimum wage increase ($8.00 – $10.00) approved three years ago after a proposed CPI clause was removed, and I would support today’s proposal if the CPI is removed. I believe the authority of raising the minimum wage should remain with the Legislature and Governor, and not be continually tied to annual inflation measures. And I don’t believe we should put future spending in the state budget on auto-pilot, without a reliable revenue source. For these reasons, I regrettably will be voting no on this measure.”
The state Department of Finance reports that the wage increase would cost $3.6 billion annually by 2023. The wage hike also will boost the pay of workers whose salaries are tied to the minimum wage.
I’m betting this was a Disney position.
Minimum wage should be viewed as sufficient for those with minimum skills such as young people or for those that strive to fill lowly skilled positions. Any individual that exhibits a history of not wishing to better themselves should not be supplemented by government forcing employers to offer greater compensation. The increase in earnings to the lowly skilled is not going to create a more values employee. It will encourage employers to replace the most lowly skilled in hopes of discovering a better worker.
Well, the Republicans sort of caused it by using the adjusted poverty rates of California at 23 percent and Texas at only 17 percent because of the cost of housing. Liberal groups use this since LA and OC are expensive for a higher minium wage. For example, liberal groups really up kid’s poverty in OC even if one study show it had lower food insecurity than wealthy Santa Clara County but OC has more Mexican kids than Santa Clara, so OC gets 27 percent and more expensive Santa Clara which has a lot of poor Asian and Latino kids only gets 20 percent in the study. If no cost of living adjustments are made OC is only about 18 percent kids poverty while Kern is about 24 percent. The study gives Kern a very low 16 percent because of cost of living. Cost of living needs to be remove from studies because social welfare is high in LA and moderately so in OC and even food banks are available. OC in my system would be 13 plus 5 are 18 percent and LA would be 18 plus 5 at 23 percent. Instead of the 10 percent jobs with cost of living studies. By the way, I think a comprise of 12 an hour would probably have lost less jobs in Kern or imperial where its cheaper to live.
I find Assemblymember Daly’s explanation for abandoning his party platform and the economically disadvantaged entirely lacking in reason! The very indexing he opposes will for all time break the back of the Republican/ Business interests which have kept a boot on the necks of the working poor for all time! It’s not rocket science to figure out that if the cost of living rises, the human/economic needs of those on the lower end of the socioeconomic must be accommodated. To do otherwise, is cruel and and its consequences ripple through all areas of society including health, education, crime and general social unrest. How sad that the one Democrat we have in the Assembly chose to vote like a Republican be holding to corporate interests……Heavy sigh….
The Bill passed, even with his “no” vote. Mr. Daly believes the minimum wage shouldn’t be tied to inflation and CPI, but regulated through the governor and legislature. For someone’s who’s been very supportive of a conservative Republican mayor in Anaheim who wants to restrict abortion rights that also hurt poor women the most, I’m not sure you’re in such a good spot to criticize. The bill passed. We won.
I support the Mayor when he supports policies that are progressive such as ending the corporate feeding at the trough brought to you by Brandman, Murray and Kring. I do not support his ideas on pensions or reproductive rights. I support Assemblymember Daly when he votes like a Democrat and oppose him when he doesn’t. His rationalization for voting no on such a core Democratic issue reads right out of the Lincol Club playbook. And btw…. don’t EVEN think this issue Is over. Not so my friend… Not so!!
I never hear a word of criticism of him cross your lips. Your criticism of him is very quiet and private isn’t it?
I didn’t know Jeff had the ability support the mayor of Anahiem. I always thought him to be another out of town opinionated gladfly in the service of OCCORD.
When did YOU mov to Anaheim Jeff?
Jeff used to live in Anaheim until his neighborhood became “a ghetto” (his words, on video during public comments at an Anaheim City Council meeting). He has every right to comment on Anaheim as do I.
Lived on the west side for over a decade and my business is still based there since 1997. Any other questions? And btw OCCORD is a nationally respected progressive community organizing model. Proud to support anything they do!!!
Yes, yes. Your right to comment on issues affecting Anaheim was noted and defended here.
Please let me know when you ever plan to publicly criticize Mayor Tait for his anti-choice ballot initiative; Lord knows you never miss a chance to go after Brandman or Daly. It would be … refreshing .. to hear you actually criticize Tait in a public forum. It’s something you have never done.