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U.S. NEWS A7
Saturday 2 April 2016

US Financial Front:

California, New York poised to raise minimum wage to $15

Supporters of a bill to raise California’s minimum wage, cele- Republican Assemblyman increases in times of bud- the suburbs of Long Island
brate outside the state Senate Chamber after the measure was Jim Patterson of Fresno said getary or economic down- and Westchester County,
approved by the Senate Thursday, March 31, 2016, in Sacra- the increase would force turns. The tentative deal the wage would rise to $15
mento, Calif. The bill, SB3, that will gradually raise California’s small-business owners to reached by New York of- by the end of 2022. The
minimum wage to a nation leading $15 an hour by 2022, was make layoffs “with tears in ficials would be phased in increases are even more
approved by both houses of the Legislature and sent to Gov. their eyes.” regionally in the nation’s drawn out upstate, where
Jerry Brown who said he will sign it. The increases would start fourth-largest state. It also the wage would hit $12.50
with a boost from $10 to would eventually affect in 2021, then increase to
(AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli) $10.50 on Jan. 1. Business- more than 2 million workers. $15 based on an undeter-
es with 25 or fewer employ- In New York City, the mined schedule.
ees would have an extra wage would increase to “This minimum wage in-
year to comply. Increases $15 by the end of 2018, crease will be of national
of $1 an hour would come though businesses with significance,” Cuomo, the
every January until 2022. fewer than 10 employees Democratic governor, told
The governor could delay would get an extra year. In reporters. q

A. NOON and called on the Repub-
J. J. COOPER lican-controlled Congress
Associated Press to “keep up with the rest of
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) the country.”
— California and New York “California takes a massive
are poised to become the leap forward today in the
highest-paid minimum- fight to rebalance our na-
wage states in the nation tion’s economy,” said Art
after their governors each Pulaski, executive secre-
reached deals with law- tary-treasurer of the Califor-
makers to raise the lowest nia Labor Federation.
amount a worker can be California’s current $10-an-
paid to a record-shattering hour minimum wage is tied
$15 an hour. with Massachusetts for the
California Gov. Jerry Brown highest among states. Only
said he will sign a new mini- Washington, D.C., at $10.50
mum-wage bill Monday af- per hour is higher. New
ter it passed the Legislature York’s minimum wage is $9.
on Thursday. Across the Democrats who control
country in New York, Gov. both legislative chambers
Andrew Cuomo reached in California hailed the in-
a tentative deal late Thurs- crease as a boon to more
day with top lawmakers than 2 million workers.
to raise the state’s base Brown, also a Democrat,
wage. said it proves the nation’s
The actions in two of the most populous state can
country’s most labor-friend- get things done and help
ly states come as the in- people get ahead.
come divide has emerged But Republicans echoed
as a key issue nationwide in fears from business owners
a presidential election year. and economists that Cali-
President Barack Obama, fornia’s annual increases
who first proposed an in- — eventually tied to infla-
crease to the $7.25 federal tion — will compound the
minimum wage in 2013, ap- state’s image as hostile
plauded the states’ actions to business.