California’s is a responsible law

Opponents of a $15 minimum wage in California ignore the fact that raising the wage strengthens local economies by helping workers and their families climb the economic ladder. Higher minimum wages put more money into workers’ pockets, money they spend at local businesses that in turn helps those businesses grow and create more jobs.

Meanwhile, those who advocate for regional minimum wages ignore the reality of California. The cost of living in California is higher than in almost every other state. That’s why it’s impossible for a minimum wage worker to get by on the state’s current wage of $10 — less than $21,000 a year — whether they live in Los Angeles or Fresno.

More than 90% of minimum wage workers are adults older than 20. Half are 30 and above. And when you consider that more than 30% of minimum wage workers are parents, it’s even clearer that living on the minimum wage anywhere in California is not feasible.

Regional minimum wages create a host of problems. They generate incentives for workers to leave lower wage areas to seek higher pay (a problem even some upstate New York Republicans cite).

They cause turmoil among adjoining communities that have different minimum wages, and create conflicting incentives for workers, business owners, and local governments.

They also create a complicated regulatory environment, making enforcement of minimum wage laws more difficult.

The California law is a responsible approach. It allows businesses ample time to adjust, regardless of location, by phasing in the higher wage over six years — seven years for businesses with 25 or fewer employees. It also builds in an ability to delay the raise for a year should the economy falter.

This legislation will make a huge difference for the more than 5 million hardworking Californians. It recognizes that a minimum wage worker in Fresno is just as valuable as a worker in San Francisco. California’s new law is the right thing to do for all workers.