ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — A big jump in Minnesota's minimum wage could be on the horizon.
Among the priority bills in the Democratic-controlled Legislature is a proposal to raise the floor wage to $7.50 for most workers at the bottom rung beginning in August.
That's $1.35 more than the current hourly minimum that large employers must pay their employers. Smaller businesses, as defined by their annual sales, pay a lower rate but that would rise as well.
The bill introduced in the state Senate goes further by making future increases automatic and linked to inflation. The minimum wage last went up in 2005.
Many minimum-wage workers in Minnesota automatically receive the higher federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, although some workers such as babysitters, taxi drivers, nonprofit volunteers and others are exempt.
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.
Comments (9)
Add commentWhat are they thinking.....
I wish that MN legislature would try to live on 7.25 or 7.50 an hour. I find it infuriating that in 40 years (being that I am 58) minimum wage has only increased 6 dollars. I certainly can understand why some people need assistance with food and rent and other necessities.
Yes i am sure i will get some flack over this post it will be the same people as usual .
shoney
no it's because of the government they made health ins. go up three times higher in the last 4 years. gas double, property taxes three times higher since the mid ''90's'' food more than double in the last couple of years. ECT.
Delete it
Why don't they raise the minimum wage to $10.00?
Or $15.00? Or $25?
Why even have a minimum wage?
The government is telling a business how much a certain job is worth to them. What?
You are trying to get a business going and the government tells you how much you have to pay someone.
Sadiemarriedlady..........
Do you really think that if they did away with minimum wage that a business would pay a fair wage ? I do not... it would end up being like the people in other countries that work their fingers to the bone but still cannot afford the basic necessities of life.
Pickle... yes i agree that all of things you mentioned have not helped however in 40 years shouldn't the minimum wage have increased to offset those rising prices?
Want more money? Prove it.
Every employee should be required to cost justify their position every year . Wanna raise? tell me why. Let the bellshaped curve do its job. The low end goes out the door. Big brother now controls the low and the high. What a great country The big question is always: Can Barry still go to Hawaii twice per year?
Dumb.
People who think min. wage helps people are clueless. Getting rid of it would increase wages. Now for example, if I want to hire somebody, I know exactly what others are paying people in non-skill entry positions. There is no bidding war for good workers, because everyone pays the same. Also the min. wage is nothing more than pandering to voters. Nobody can live on min wage, or even above min wage. It is a pointless gesture. Another point, is who makes the minimum? Mostly kids who just want to earn a few bucks to buy ipods and go to the movies. People who are just starting out in the world and who do not yet have any real life skills. If you are 40 and making min wage, the law setting the wage is the least of your problems. Raising the min wage hurts only business owners and consumers, and helps virtually nobody. Example: lets say I own a fast food restaurant and I have about 400 hours a week of min. wage labor. If the wage goes up $0.25/hr that is $100/week out of my pocket. It will cost me over five grand a year. Most min wage kids work about 10 hours a week. So this new law would cost me over five thousand dollars a year just in min wage increase, while adding a whopping $2.50 a week to my employees. Senseless. Not to mention the fact that people making just above the min wage will expect the same sort of raise. A raise, even though it is not earned. This cost will come out of the pockets of consumers. It is nothing more than mandated inflation. Raising the min wage is nothing more than a law that makes people feel good about voting for it, but in reality hurts every single business owner and consumer.
The minimum wage hike
is nothing more than a way to increase tax revenue. Here's what happens. let's say a guy is making $10 per hour and the minimum wage is $5. He is taxed accordingly. When the minimum wage is raised to $6 per hr. The $10 an hour guy is now getting a pay cut through the new taxes. and is now making less money. If they raise the minimum wage, businesses won't give the $10 per hour guy a raise or a cost of living increase, they will just leave that guy where he is at.
All it does is increase the tax base due to the government. Everyone loses.
Eventually the minimum wage will be $10 per hour. And since wages have not increased in over 20 odd years paid by businesses for doing the same job. eventually we all will be on minimum wage.
Will you people please learn
Will you people please learn how money and taxes work. I know most all of us had public schooling, but come on! Use your brains.
shoney
I work for a large corp. I'm happy with my wages (less than $20.oo an hour). TILL the government got involved Taxes,Health Ins., Property Taxes, House Ins. Fuel Oil, GAS ect.I'm broke ever since Obama took over. He keeps changing the rules I can't make enough money for him. Welfare is starting to look good. It pays a hell of a lot better. I know people who are quitting their job for lower pay so they can get MN.CARE.