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According to the Pew Research Center (pdf) last year, 83% of Americans (and 72% of Republicans) favor raising the federal minimum wage by two dollars to $7.15 per hour.
Most Americans live in states that have already raised the minimum wage. And in states that have not raised the minimum wage, 82% of residents favor raising it to $7.15 per hour.
The Parlor hears that Rep. Patricia Todd’s bill (HB 331) to phase in an increase in the state’s minimum wage to $7.25 over two years probably does not have the votes to get out of the House Commerce Committee today. Instead, we hear that committee chair Frank McDaniel (D – Albertville) will introduce a substitute to set Alabama’s minimum wage at the federal level. (Why would we want a state law setting our minimum wage at the federal level when, in the absence of a state law, our mimimum wage is already set at the federal level?)
Legislators give themselves a 62% wage increase, but won’t increase wages for those who earn the least? When the purchasing power of minimum wage is at its lowest point in 52 years?
Most questionable argument against raising the state’s minimum wage in today’s Birmingham News story comes from Rosemary Elebash, state director in Alabama for the National Federation of Independent Business, who said most of her members oppose creating a state minimum wage: “I’ve got members who say . . . they’re all paying more than minimum wage.”
The obvious point to be made there: “‘Most of our employers in the area already pay above minimum wage,’ said Jay Shows of Demopolis’ Industrial Development Board. ‘So, I would think it would only make a minimum impact.’”
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[...] According to Danny, Rep. Patricia Todd’s bill that would raise the minimum wage in Alabama to $7.25 is likely going to stall in committee. Good. The government shouldn’t be meddling in the wage that a willing worker and willing employer agree upon. [...]