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Category: Minimum Wage

GOP Isn’t Doing Its Job

Apr. 16 Big Government, Class Warfare, Economics, Election 2013, Minimum Wage 20 comments

Unwillingness (Or Inability) to Articulate Conservatism Could Cost Republicans Down the Ballot in 2013

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

ElephantsA brand new Rutgers-Eagleton poll out today is bad news for down-ballot New Jersey Republicans.

The Institute found that “[t]he increase from $7.25 to $8.25 an hour will be on the November ballot” is actually “supported by 76 percent of voters. [emphasis added.] Only 20 percent express opposition.” A February 2013 Monmouth Polling Institute survey found 53% of Republicans supporting a hike.

Let’s be honest with ourselves: that result is indicative of a large-scale GOP leadership failure, Save Jerseyans…

CONTINUE READING….

Economic Special Sauce (VIDEO)

Feb. 15 Economics, Minimum Wage 10 comments

Minimum Wage Hike Folly Explained Using America’s Favorite Food

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Your friends at Save Jersey have expended plenty of digital ink over the last year explaining why the Obama/N.J. Democrat minimum wage push would represent an unmitigated disaster for our struggling economy.

Someone has to do it! SCR-1 cleared the Assembly yesterday for the second time and, consequently, it’s headed to your November ballot. The GOP (both here in the Garden State and elsewhere across the fruited plain) is dropping the ball. We’ve chosen to run with it.

But today is Friday, folks, and it’s been a looong week.

So like any good teacher, I’m going to show you a video instead of forcing a long, fact-intensive post down your throats. Your cooperation is still necessary… no sleeping! Set aside the theoretical for a moment and allow yourself to digest a real world scenario where the minimum wage hurts both employers AND the low wage workers whom it’s supposed to help.

h/t Professor Antony Davies…

CONTINUE READING….

Obama Pitches $9 Disaster

Feb. 13 Barack Obama, Class Warfare, Economics, Minimum Wage, State of the Union 5 comments

Uh-Oh: President Adopts N.J. Democrats’ Minimum Wage Gimmick During State of the Union

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Obama and Corzine in 2009There was one moment last night when I knew President Obama’s State of the Union speech would be an unredeemable disaster, Save Jerseyans.

It happened when he endorsed the New Jersey Democrat minimum wage hike, also tethered to annual cost of living index increases, but  with an extra 50 cents per hour thrown in just for good measure.

Did you hear a discernable roar outside when he said it?

That was small businessmen across America witnessing their payroll costs balloon to unsustainable levels!

Can you blame them? They know firsthand exactly how badly the President’s premise is off-the-mark.

The vast majority of minimum wage employees either (1) rapidly earn wage increases or (2) represent a secondary household income. In other words, very few families rely on the minimum wage.

What’s more, all available statistics, common sense and the cumulative experience of business owners demonstrate how minimum wage hikes are always counterproductive insofar as they inevitably lead to decreases in minimum wage jobs and shifts…

CONTINUE READING….

Christie Leads Buono by 42-Points

Feb. 12 Barbara Buono, Chris Christie, Economics, Election 2013, Minimum Wage 1 comment

N.J. Voters Support Minimum Wage Hike by Similar Margin

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

Chris Christie pointingGovernor Chris Christie is still riding high with 70% approval rating, Save Jerseyans. Only 17% disapprove. And he’s leading the presumptive Democratic nominee by an epic margin.

More from the latest Monmouth University/Asbury Park Press Poll:

More than 6-in-10 (63%) registered voters say that Gov. Christie deserves a second term, similar to his December support (61%) and higher than in September (50%).  Three-in-ten (29%) say it is time to put someone else in office and 8% are not sure whether the governor merits re-election.  In a head-to-head contest with the presumptive Democratic nominee, State Senator Barbara Buono, Christie garners 62% of intended support from registered voters while Buono claims 20%.”

The bad news?

Support for a job-killing minimum wage hike is equally high:

When asked about their own level of support if the legislature decides to put the minimum wage on the ballot in November, 66% of New Jersey voters say they would support it.  Another 14% are opposed and 20% are not sure how they would vote.  Support comes from 81% of Democrats, 60% of independents and 56% of Republicans.”

I can’t imagine why; maybe it’s because Republicans have strategically surrendered on the issue? Rather than honor their obligation to the state’s small business community by explaining to taxpayers why it’s a ruinous idea? Just a thought…

Click here to view the full poll results, analysis and data tables from Patrick Murray.

 

Min Wage Isn’t Family Wage

Jan. 29 Economics, Minimum Wage 2 comments

Contrary to Democrat Claims, Studies Show Families Rarely Subsist on Minimum Wage

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

American FamilyYou’re going to hear plenty of this after yesterday’s veto of the Democrats’ insane minimum wage increase, Save Jerseyans.

But you and I both know this has absolutely NOTHING to do with the plight of working families. It’s a cynical (and economically reckless) attempt to drive up Democrat base turnout in a year when Chris Christie lacks an enthusiasm-generating Democrat opponent. Republicans used the same tactic in 2004 by posting marriage ballot questions in key states. Nothing new here. They’re not expecting to beat Chris Christie with it; Dem leaders are simply hoping to get a minimum wage question on the November 2013 ballot and prevent a down-ticket disaster.

Worse still, the “working family” talking point is completely inaccurate.

Take the example of today’s Star-Ledger editorial which was light on facts and heavy on emotion, lamenting the “pattern” of Chris Christie’s assault on “low-wage families.”

This Bradley Schiller column from The Wall Street Journal (a newspaper which Americans still actually read, unlike the Ledger) from Back in October 2011 is extremely instructive. The key point? Whole families subsisting on the minimum wage is not a common occurrence in the United States.  Reputable nonpartisan studies have found that 70% of adults working for the minimum wage actually do so for less than two years, and virtually every one of these workers eventually obtains a higher-paying job…

CONTINUE READING….

Christie Vetoes Min Wage Bill

Jan. 28 Economics, Minimum Wage 25 comments

New Jersey Governor Kills Assembly Minimum Wage Hike, Proposes His Own More Modest Plan

By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog

The State House in Trenton, New Jersey.

The State House in Trenton, New Jersey.

Good news and less good news this snowy afternoon, Save Jerseyans.

The Good? Governor Chris Christie conditionally vetoed a ghastly Assembly bill today that would’ve increased New Jersey’s minimum wage by $1.25 per hour and tied future increases to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). You can read the veto here (pdf).

The Less Good? Governor Christie pitched a counter-proposal of his own. The details are as follows (via an Administration release):

Under Governor Christie’s proposal, New Jersey’s minimum wage earners will receive an immediate raise of twenty-five cents per hour in the first year, followed by a second-year increase of fifty cents, and finally another twenty-five cent per hour increase in the third year. By combining both immediate and long-term increases to minimum wage pay and removing the volatile unpredictability of automatic increases, the Governor’s plan will give workers the relief they need and also give New Jersey’s small businesses a short, but necessary, period to plan for the implementation of a one-dollar increase. This sensible and balanced approach will prevent the layoffs and relocations certain to accompany the Legislature’s current proposal.”

Translated: Gov. Chris Christie vetoed a proposed $1.25 per hour minimum wage increase from the Legislature, preferring an increase that would be just $1 per hour and phased in over a period of three years…

CONTINUE READING….

We Must Hold Whelan and Albano Accountable for Their Votes

Dec. 04 Economics, Jim Whelan, Minimum Wage, Nelson Albano, State Assembly 2 comments

Save Jerseyans, I’m sure you’ve the read the in-depth, common sense arguments that my fellow bloggers have been making against the minimum wage hikes the State Legislature just passed.

‘Cause they sure as hell haven’t in Trenton.

And while my fellow bloggers use their expertise and skills, and do us all a service, to inject facts, math and analysis into the debate, I feel I must use my expertise and skills to inject accountability into the situation.

I’m gonna hold the guys in my neck of the woods accountable for their votes.

To all business owners in Atlantic and Cape May Counties, (which is Districts 1 and 2, for those of you who don’t write your voting district on your mailing address), you need to know that Assemblyman Nelson Albano of District 1 and Senator Jim Whelan of District 2 just voted to raise your biggest reoccurring expense by 17% in 4 weeks.

To all employed people who don’t want to see their hours cut, and are already facing that prospect due to Obamacare, Albano and Whelan just voted to increase the odds your hours will go way down in 2013.

To all the small businesses on the barrier islands that are rebuilding after Sandy, trying to get back on your feet and determine when or even if you can open your doors again, Albano and Whelan just kicked you while you were down. Like you don’t have enough money going out the door right now?

Read the analysis by my fellow bloggers. And you’ll see that Albano and Whelan just did a very bad thing.

 

Assembly Votes to Hike Minimum Wage from $7.25 to $8.50

Dec. 03 Anthony Bucco, Economics, Minimum Wage, State Assembly 2 comments

The New Jersey Assembly followed the State State’s lead earlier this afternoon and passed a minimum wage hike tied to the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

Anthony Bucco, Jr. is usually very articulate on these issues; today is no exception:

Increasing the minimum wage by 17 percent will not help New Jersey’s economy. It will have a negative effect on a large segment of wage earners who are seasonal employees or part-time workers. Businesses will adjust their operation in a manner that will not help those who are earning money to pay for college tuition or car insurance. At a time when a number of small businesses are trying to recover from October’s superstorm, this bill will not help them in that effort.

“In addition to increasing the rate by 17 percent, an equally faulty provision of this bill is adjusting the rate annually based on increases to the CPI. Employees compensated at this level, who are typically between the ages of 16 and 21, could very well see their ranks diminish or the number of hours they work reduced. It is naïve to think businesses will not adjust to this increase accordingly. Ultimately, the increase in the cost of doing business will be passed onto the consumer.”

To learn more about why this would be a HORRIBLE idea for New Jersey’s economy, click here to visit our minimum wage archives.