Governor John Bel Edwards wants to raise the state’s minimum wage and Marrero Representative Kyle Green has filed legislation that would increase the minimum wage from $7.25 to nine dollars an hour in 2021. He says since the economy is booming, there’s no reason businesses can’t afford to pay their workers fairly.
“Business and corporations are making record profits but those profits are not trickling down to the everyday working men and women of this state,” says Green.
Arkansas rose its minimum increase to 10 dollars this year. It’s set to rise again to 11 dollars in 2021.
Green says nine dollars an hour is still not a living wage, but he’s willing to work with opponents who might refuse a higher number.
“I’m a pragmatist and I think in the business of making laws you have to compromise. I’m willing to do that to get a pay increase,” says Green.
Democrats running for President back a 15 dollar minimum wage by 2025.
The last increase in the minimum wage for Louisianans happened in 2009 under the Obama Administration. Green says we’re long overdue to increase it again.
“We have people who work 40 hours a week making 7.25, and with that 7.25 they can’t even make ends meet to take care of their basic necessities,” says Green.
The move is opposed by business groups.
