(Victor Joecks, Las Vegas Review-Journal) – On Day 2 of the 2017 Nevada Legislature, Senate Democrats introduced a minimum-wage bill. Beyond heated debate, the bill will shed light on the strategy Democrats will use to push their liberal agenda.
SB106, sponsored by the Senate Committee on Commerce, Labor, and Energy, would increase the minimum wage by 75 cents an hour each year for five years. That would give Nevada a minimum wage of $12 an hour for employers who don’t offer health insurance and $11 an hour for employers who do. The bill has no exemptions for teenagers, special-needs workers or training wages. The federal minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.
On the merits, it’s terrible policy. Minimum wage proposals are unjust, because the government should have no role in restricting the jobs available to low-skill or inexperienced workers. SB106 would increase the youth unemployment rate in Nevada, especially during the next economic downturn. Fortunately, Gov. Brian Sandoval understands this.
“Due to the predicted loss of jobs and harm to small businesses, the potential to block young people and individuals with less work experience from open positions, and an increase in consumer prices, the Governor has historically opposed a legislative mandate to increase the minimum wage,” said Mari St. Martin, Sandoval’s spokeswoman, while noting the governor doesn’t comment on specific legislation while it’s working its way through the Legislature.
