From the Union Leader, my brow first furrowed and then LMOA:
Increasing state’s minimum wage debated
“Paying decent wages is a good investment for our economy,” said Senate Bill 412’s prime sponsor, Sen. Donna Soucy, D-Manchester. “Well-paid workers are better employees and better customers; their spending helps sustain our businesses and our economy.”
The state’s unemployment rate is the fourth-lowest in the country, and all other New England states have higher minimum wages, she said, which puts New Hampshire businesses at a disadvantage. Even companies like Wal-Mart have recognized the benefits of raising wages in order to retain workers at their stores, she said, noting a recent company announcement that it would raise what it pays both full- and part-time workers.
Seriously, is State Senator Donna Soucy absolutely incompetent in things economically? First, while one might think that “well-paid” workers may be better paid employees but artificially enhanced (via government meddling) isn’t going to make low skilled (and thus lower paid) employees “better”. In fact, as we are seeing in places where the “spread the wealth of other peoples’ money around” Democrats and Progressives have already done this (e.g., Seattle, Berkley), some employees have become “no-paid”. And the simple truth is that raising the minimum wage doesn’t make them “well-paid” – they are still at the bottom of the barrel due to their low economic worth to their employer.
And she doesn’t say much about wage compression either.
