Sausage Grinding In All Its Glory. Minimum Wage Today, Higher Gas Taxes Tomorrow.
In a move reportedly designed to head off a ballot initiative, a higher minimum wage was passed and signed by Governor Rick Snyder.
Snyder yesterday signed ‘bipartisan’ legislation raising Michigan’s minimum wage by September to $8.15, and to $9.25 an hour by 2018, a move he said “will help hard-working residents without hindering the state’s improving economy.” SB 934 is now Public Act 138 of 2014.
Oh, and by the way; It should be noted that a majority of the House Republicans voted NO on this. (albeit a small one)
We support those voting no, including one of our Northern Michigan legislators who gets it. Greg MacMaster (R-105) says
“It’s not favorable to business which goes against our plan to improve the economy and make it more predictable for businesses to function. Now, we have forced hem backwards by this ballot initiative scare. This decision should not be made by the government but by the businesses themselves. They know how much they can afford to pay.
He then asks:
If there are businesses that eventually go out of business because of the increase cost of doing business (gas tax, minimum wage, ACA), will the state be willing to bail them out?
Not unless there is some quid pro quo going on in all likelihood.
The “devastating effects” (as far as the est talking points go) are underscored by Wayne Schmidt’s (MacMaster’s primary opponent for the 37th senate race in 2014) “tough decision.” His calamitous talk on this mornings Ron Jolly show of why he supported going against the majority of Republicans was full of the doom and gloom an $0.85 difference between the ballot proposal and this legislation would make.
Certainly, such passion would sell the danger aspect of such an insipid proposal. Certainly such intensity could be brought alongside the numerous economic pitfalls associated with pricing start up employees and tipped wait staff out of work. In a way that shoots down such insanity. Right?
The fear is either palpable, or it is something else.
Senate Bill 934 increases the minimum wage from $7.40 an hour to $9.25 over the next four years and would be adjusted to the rate of inflation or 3.5 percent, whichever is lower, starting in 2019.Tipped employees would have a rate that is 38 percent of the minimum, or about $3.51 an hour. The first increase will be seen by September, when $8.15 an hour is mandated.
September will also be the time which work-age kiddies will return to school, and summer jobs will be emptied. In other words; “no need to destroy Michigan’s economy THIS year,” just before the election.
The usual patting of backs and fluffery comes through the official statement from the governor’s office. Snyder of course commenting; “I commend my partners in the Legislature for finding common ground on a bill that will help Michigan workers and protect our state’s growing economy. Michigan is the comeback state, and our goal always should be long-term success for our residents and our state as a whole.”
Snyder says the bill “represents a compromise and responsibly raises the wage.”
It is absolutely a “compromise.” One of principle, that now leaves the door open for the ballot initiative in 2016 to go to $13.13 an hour. (is there any doubt?) As the positive reinforcement engages the progressive left’s amygdala, it nearly guarantees they will be back for more. Much more.
To be sure, some in the GOP had worried about the “devastating effect” of $10.10 being passed, as well as the thought that a million new ‘minimum wage’ voters would come out to vote in November. But no one considered what might happen if we started reminding folks that a 20% unemployment rate condition is not a great place for anyone at ANY wage level who is seeking employment. A false claim of support for raising the minimum wage to $10.10, has been used to snooker a bunch of spineless dummies in Lansing.
And worse yet, the Republicans who supported this, have further destroyed the GOP’s credibility going forward. Take the comment by Governor Snyder: “will help hard-working residents without hindering the state’s improving economy,” as an example.
It essentially takes away the argument Republicans have traditionally (and correctly) made that higher mandated wages creates unemployment. It pretends that a little initial increase will have no effect, thus guaranteeing an argument (and subsequent initiatives) later that [just a little] more will be as equally benign and harmless.
So much for shutting down the signature gathering effort.
And truly, the Democrats appear to be the politically savvy players in this. If they had expectations of the $10.10 signature campaign being fruitful in November, they sure as heck didn’t show it. Why on earth would they toss away the holy grail of double digit minimum wages, and a sure fire get-out-the-vote effort so willingly, unless they had a better outcome planned?
They (the Dems) knew it was impossible to pass the initiative once people realized the ‘devastating’ effects of $10.10. They also knew that a 65% polling favor of raising the minimum wage from a survey of 600 is pure hogwash. Especially when the polling was done by an outfit run by former Democrat party communications director Dennis Denno:
Dennis Denno is the chief of staff for Michigan state Sen. Virgil Smith (D-Detroit). Previously, he worked for Sen. Buzz Thomas for eight years and one year as the communications director for the Michigan House of Representatives Democratic Caucus. Prior to that, he was the communications director for the Michigan Democratic Party (MDP).
Indeed, the progressives can hardly complain.
They certainly got what they wanted, didn’t they? Only TWO Dems voted against it in the house, and only two Dems voted against it in the senate. Hardly a conflicted place for any of them.
Nope, there is absolutely NO WAY the backers of the $10.10 petition drive can kvetch about losing their precious ballot initiative; as they are represented wholly on SB 934’s passage.
It seems unlikely that the GOP as a whole could be so politically naive.
We aren’t the only ones scratching our heads either. Tom LaDuke at FTR recognizes that we need to let the initiative come up and FAIL for what it is. In “Michigan Gives Up,” he says:
“The GOP braintrust will argue that they got ahead of a bad deal and are saving jobs. All wage increases kill jobs. All. If you can’t have a very public debate about this shame on you. If you do and lose being the ballot proposal passes than the state tanks and your hands are clean. You bury the Dems for a generation and you did it on principle, not political expediency because there is a election this November and you really want to be liked.
Emphasis, my own.
One would think the Mi GOP leadership and its sycophantic following is outright stupid then, right?
There are certainly dynamics in play. But .. Consider what is next, and you all can tell me. Its no surprise that so many Republicans sold out on what little conservative credibility they had remaining.
When that road funding package comes up in the next few days, there will be plenty of boot licking from the left side of the aisle.
(18)Nuh Uh.
(2)
Large entities that do not keep current, real, have statistically proven good performance, the best interest of most Americans in mind, will eventually face the correction mandates music ....new laws. Such large entities, whatever they may be, have repeated this, time and time, again.
This minimum wage issue is one of those times. Working adults produce work and value that far surpasses $7.25/hr.
At some point, the general working adults will stop taking and will boycott working at the businesses that pay such low wage. Such wages are for the 14 -17 year old teen. Adults should not be subject to babysitter wages, for adult level work.
Yes, let the market drive this whole thing...and keep logic straight here. The businesses that can not afford above 9-10 dollars and hour are not running an adult level business. Let such businesses stay, as such. Such business should only work with the right, appropriate age group, for the wage level...the 14-17 year olds.
Getting back to my original point, mandates and laws primarily happen when something is out of balance and has consistently stayed out of whack. When unheeded, unheard, necessary, logical, corrections are not made...the hammer comes down and forces the righting of the ship.
If you don't like the impending....such groups, any groups, are far wiser to figure out a sound, working, compromise, think real...before the hammer comes down. Keeping heads in the sand, does not work, in these scenarios.
Well, Jill, if you haven't figured it out by now - you prolly never will - but, once again... if government is the answer, it was a stupid question.
Now, go discuss with your healthcare navigator comrades, and your other *inspirational people* on Facefart.
See U next Tuesday.
Scales...actually, your point re government and my main point are the very same. Please reread.
You do not know me, I am not a "government" person.
American is made up of The People, first, only, and primarily. The government is secondary.
Ma'am, I've read your circular logic government hammer bullsh!t, and it is just that - bullsh!t.
Says who. All the dolts pushing "living wage" bullsh!t regarding entry level jobs? The same unskilled mouthbreathers that believe *they're entitled* to more money because they shat out kids while working entry level jobs? F#@% 'em. Want to end "poverty" in America? Can't feed 'em, then don't breed 'em.
Entry level jobs are just that - entry level. Those jobs are there to teach youth the basics of getting their ass to work on time, and welcoming them to the real world of responsibility. The real world doesn't give a rat's ass about Precious Snowflakes™ nor their douchetastic helicopter parents.
Now, true story.
Jill, that's the God's Honest truth that I do not know who you are, however, I do know what you are. You indeed are not a "government" person - you're a "it takes a village" person. As I previously noted above, all one needs to do to see that is to look at your Facefart page with your *inspirational people*... John Dewey, the Socialist who endorsed the Humanist Manifesto, which did little more than to plagiarize Marx and Engels. Then to double-down, you list Hillary 'The Butcher of Benghazi' Clinton. F#@% me running! That nasty fat-thighed commie broad started by getting her nasty ass booted out of the Watergate hearings for being a lying bitch, and all these decades and four dead Americans later, you somehow find Hillary an "inspiration," Jill? You're more f#@% up than she is.
Please, go be fat somewhere else. That or, I start on you and Anna Mouser.
When you say
you are being subjective.
Under what test do you determine that? What is the objective analysis done to validate such a broad statement?
Fact of the matter, is I have "adult work" that I pay employees for. I have had adults working for me that weren't worth $7 an hour to me. They no longer work for me because of that.
For THOSE individuals, I MIGHT have found work for them at an appropriate wage. But because they were worth less to me than I was mandated to pay, they may still be unemployed.
Government is not there to FIX or "Right The Ship," and it is wholly unworthy of determining free market worth or value.
Yes, Jason, my above statement is a little subjective.
On the scale of things and in a scientific, measured way, my observation would lean towards proving my statement accurate.
We have all had workers that are not worth a penny...however, they are the minority and a small minority. I know you know this.
Regarding the thought that I believe the Government fixes everything....see my earlier comment to Scales.
My desire and goal is to bring The People back.....create a People's Platform. Doing so, will drive the government and the free market.
Using government to enforce one's will over another is not making government "secondary" as you stated in another response.
The PROPER "people's platform" is one where the individual is protected from all manner of coerciveness like minimum wages, forced use of services, forced associations, etc..
Ron Jolly stated it well this morning when he opined about the ridiculousness of having to "Go through the legislative process to get a pay raise." Its absurd to involve government on in contracts between employee and employer; except in order to enforce contract (courts)
Mostly, leaning towards, almost, don't cut it.
Stealing the freedoms a little at a time is as insidious as attempting to imprison us all at once. And it still doesn't cover your statement
.. You need to be involved in hiring people more often. There are more stupid, useless adults out there than ever before. Once common core turns em all into lawnmower mechanics, it will be worse.
This nation is being turned inside out. Once upon a time they used to kill the smart people in the revolutions. Now they feed em rhetorical lead paint from all the standard media sources.
Whoa, easy there cowboy.
I think small engine mechanics would know much more than what common core would teach.
Don't count your chickens before the eggs hatch, Jr.
By your reasoning presented, there is a pre-Commie Core (All Hail JenniRick Snydholm, Bush v4.0, a Wooden Shoe Mafia, the Blackwater Barracuda, and their turd burglar (schadenfreude)) 58-year-old ball-less dick *mechanic* in Grand Lake who loves him some red light cameras that is a fly in your ointment. Well, unless you just mean that the ball-less dick residing in Presque Isle really is nothing more than a useless c***sucker after all. That part, I can buy.
You believe it'll get better? I've got a DRIC to sell you...
You want some entertaining Owebamessiah schadenfreude reading material, Click here.
How Michigan Just Drove its Promising Recovery Off a Cliff | Fox Business http://fxn.ws/1k3iSsN
Thanks Joe.
But, but, but, Mr. Lenard... Booby ShowStack, and Little Ronna sez, #ComebackState
Again, the Rino's snatch de-feet from the jaws of victory. And our buddy Rep. W Schmidt is right in there supporting it. I wish he would go back to fixing pot holes. If $9 is good and $10 is better why not $15 or $20 I ask Jill R. I can't wait to hear the predictable answer!
A big part of the answer is there is plentiful labor, and why is that. Oh about 11 Million illegals. The real economic rule is supply and demand. As long as our congress does nothing to solve the border problem, making their handlers happy, we will suffer with low wages.
You know, back when the Obamacare Medicaid votes were taking place, I believe someone from RightMI recommended I "STFU" for issuing a press release telling Brandenburg that I'd primary him if he voted for it. How'd he vote this time around, seeing as he doesn't have a primary challenger? Just goes to show that there are only two things that keep a pol in line, votes and money. No matter how "solid" a conservative, they can't be trusted when they get too comfortable.
You know, Kurt, it wasn't someone that recommended you "STFU," it was me. As if you Ronulans are any more "solid" than Brandenburg? GMAFB. Besides, the only one you can blame for Brandenburg not having a primary challenger is, you. With that said, I'll stop just short of calling you a whiny little bitch - for now.
Thanks for commenting, Kurt.
Wow, defensive lately? Brandenburg voted right on Medicaid, so your point is moot. Further, I don't recall my post stating anything about comparisons of who's more "solid", but I can say that your mindset doesn't seem to fit that description at all. You claim to support conservatism, but as evidenced by your other inane replies to comment on this site, seem to be just another quid-pro-quo opportunist hiding behind a skewed moniker of "justice". On the other hand, you know nothing about me yet decide to put me into discriminate categories, great way to show people you're not a complete dick when someone proves you wrong.
Well, there you go, Kurt. Whiny little bitch. You earned it.
No, stupid. That was your point - not mine.
So, you are just a whiny little bitch. Thanks for clarifying for all.
Now, go f#@% yourself.
Your level of intellect amazes me. Do you talk that way while you're on your knees for your step-dad, or only when servicing your establishment RINO boy toys? You're a political blogger, hiding behind a handle that you apparently know nothing about, get over yourself. At least Jason has the balls to use his real name. But, then again, Jason is the only one on this site that isn't a sheeple. You know what, keep hiding, cowardice proves your lack of credibility.
So, you go from twatwaffle straight to c*ntcake.
Nice job, Kurt.