$15 minimum wage met with skepticism in Vermont

[TexasTowelie]

MONTPELIER — Vermont gubernatorial candidate Peter Galbraith (D) is making a $15 minimum wage a centerpiece of his campaign, but Republican opponents and one local economics professor say the wage could hurt Vermont’s economy.

Galbraith, a former state senator and U.S. diplomat, has touted the higher wage in television ads and press releases, as well as at a recent debate. The Democrat from Townshend proposes raising the wage to $12.50 immediately, then upping it to $15 in increments.

“I’m totally committed, and have been for a long time, to the higher minimum wage,” Galbraith said during last month’s debate in Irasburg. “When I was in the Senate I pushed legislation to introduce a minimum wage of $12 by 2015. I’m sorry that it didn’t happen.”

Galbraith argues that the minimum wage didn’t increase unemployment during the Great Depression of the 1930s, and says a $15 minimum wage today, when adjusted for inflation, is less than what the wage was in the 1960s.

Read more: http://www.suncommunitynews.com/articles/the-vermont-eagle/15-minimum-wage-met-with-skepticism-in-vermont/

[marble falls]

1. I miss your news digest but I also know I wouldn't be able to keep it up myself.....

Why do people have such a problem with $15/hr?

[TexasTowelie]

2. I'm being slightly more selective in the news articles that I am posting,

but the news cycle for the smaller and more local stories has been pretty slow the last couple of weeks. I'm adding all of the OPs to my journal so people can go there or the individual state groups to stay informed.

The good news about not combining all of the articles in a single thread is that if I see something occurring of importance then I'm not waiting for a few days to post the threads so I'm actually a bit more current overall and I'm moving a bit faster through the cycle compared to keeping up the other site. There also seems to be a bit more discussion on the threads.

I agree that it takes about $15/hour to have a livable wage these days (and even more in some cities). The question is how long does it take to get from the current minimum wage to $15 though and what is to be done for people that are not able to work?

While an increase in the minimum wage does put more money into the pockets of low-level workers it does have an adverse effect on the people that have fixed or no income as products become less affordable.

The merits about raising the minimum wage can be argued in many ways and I don't want to spew Republican talking points, but increasing the minimum wage is a mixed bag depending upon personal circumstances. If you are able to work it may be a good thing, if you are not able to work for any reason then it makes the situation more difficult because of the inflationary effects.

[marble falls]

3. I think the inflationary aspects are over blown: for one thing a lot of minum wage ....

workers are subsidized by tax supported programs: food stamps, child care, general welfare, rent supports.

The costs of health care have gone down since ACA has insured more people.