May 19, 2015

“Raise the Wage” Sponsors Don’t Pay Any Wage to Their Interns

When Senator Patty Murray (D-WA) introduced a bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $12 an hour, she argued that the United States should “make sure our minimum wage is set to a level that works” for employees. Sen. Murray should start with her own staff–as should most of…
April 17, 2015

New Website “Faces of $15” Shows Human Side of Wage Debate

Minimum wage has another face. It’s the face of a protester holding the purple and yellow “SEIU” sign at protest rallies like those last Wednesday, but rather the face of a business owner forced to adapt his or her business model to comply with dramatic…
Research April 13, 2015

Examining the Costs of the City of Oakland’s $12.25 Minimum Wage

Examining the Costs of the City of Oakland’s $12.25 Minimum Wage In November 2014, residents of the Bay Area cities of San Francisco and Oakland voted in favor of minimum wage increases for most businesses in the city limits. The San Francisco proposal will raise the city’s minimum wage…
April 6, 2015

Another San Fran Book Store Under Threat From $15 Minimum Wage

Remember Borderlands Books? This San Francisco independent book store had a near-death experience earlier this year, garnering national headlines for the news that it would shut down as a consequence of the city’s minimum wage increase to $15 an hour. Borderlands was saved by a unique customer fundraiser…
March 30, 2015

New Paradigm in Minimum Wage Debate in San Fran and Oakland

Our recent Wall Street Journal op-ed showcases the difficulties for small businesses in Oakland and San Francisco as a result of those cities raising (or about to raise) their minimum wages to $12.25 and $15 an hour, respectively. We argue that such consequences should serve as warnings to other…
Rhode Island March 18, 2015

Policy Brief: The Impact of Increasing Rhode Island’s Tipped Minimum Wage

This Thursday, a coalition of labor organizations and Rhode Island politicians will hold a press conference promoting an initiative to raise the state’s minimum wage for tipped employees by at least 211 percent by 2019. The legislative to accomplish this goal was introduced by Rep. Aaron Regunberg (D-Dist. 4, Providence).
March 3, 2015

Policy Brief: The Impact of a $10.10 Minimum Wage in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania Governor Tom Wolf has advocated for raising the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 an hour. Proponents argue that a minimum wage increase will, on net, be a benefit for Pennsylvania employees. One labor union-supported think tank even projected that a higher minimum wage would create jobs in the state. However, in a study…
March 2, 2015

Policy Brief: The Impact of a $10.10 Minimum Wage in Iowa

Legislation has been introduced to raise Iowa’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from its current level of $7.25. Proponents argue that a minimum wage increase will, on net, be a benefit for Iowa employees. However, in a study last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated that a half-million jobs would…
March 2, 2015

Policy Brief: The Impact of a $10.10 Minimum Wage in Tennessee

Recently, State Representative G.A. Hardaway introduced legislation to raise Tennessee’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, from its current amount of $7.25. Proponents argue that a minimum wage increase will, on net, be a benefit for Tennessee employees. However, in a study last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office…
March 2, 2015

Policy Brief: The Impact of a $10.10 Minimum Wage in Ohio

Recently, State Senator Kenny Yuko introduced legislation to raise Ohio’s minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, from its current amount of $8.10. Proponents argue that a minimum wage increase will, on net, be a benefit for Ohio employees. However, in a study last year, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimated…