The House Labor Committee voted against a bill today to increase the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour starting on January 1st. Business groups say a higher minimum wage will result in fewer jobs and higher costs that will be passed on to the consumer. Cofounder of Ten-thousand Women Melissa Flourney pointed out to the committee that 30 states have a higher minimum wage than $7.25.
“The minimum wage in Arkansas is $11 and has been for the last three years. I don’t hear Arkansas bitching and moaning about businesses leaving Arkansas,” Flourney said.
The measure failed on a 7-5 vote. Slidell Representative Brian Glorioso voted against the measure, and he would rather see investments in workforce training.
“Give them training and workforce development so that they are moving forward in raising their wages way above minimum wage,” Glorioso suggested.
Glorioso says increasing the minimum wage will not reduce poverty in Louisiana. He says if the state really wants to help out low-wage earners, provide them training to get a higher paying job.
“Even if we’re compensating them to get the training when they’re progressing so that they are able to keep that job, get the training and then move up into the system, that would actually result in a solution,” Glorioso said.
The debate over raising the minimum wage is an annual one at the state capitol. Several other previous proposals failed to make it out of committee. Lafayette Representative Themi Chassion wants to see more action than just talking.
“And we discuss it. And it’s discussed. And we debate. And we articulate. We need real change and adjustment,” Chassion said.
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