$15 minimum wage won’t cause sky to fall
Minimum wage will rise rise to $15 an hour in 2022. Oh, the sky is falling! Based on a 40-hour work week, after federal, state and local taxes, (not mentioning any possible medical plan deductions), the employees will probably see around $20,000 in net income!
Say this lucky person has to pay $800 a month in rent and $120 a month in utilities – both conservative figures – and they are looking at very little disposable income. For all of the naysayers, I suggest you try to live on that type of money and provide clothing and food for your kids, not to mention gasoline and insurance so you can go to work.
What the critics are missing is the tax return to the state and local economies, and the fact that at $15 an hour, most welfare evaporates – which is what conservatives want. The idea that a $15 minimum wage will damage businesses large and small is ludicrous.
Timothy McKeever, Fresno
This story was originally published April 5, 2016 at 6:06 AM with the headline "$15 minimum wage won’t cause sky to fall."