Showing posts with label minimum wage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label minimum wage. Show all posts

Sunday, July 1, 2018

When is a Grand Bargain Actually a Grand Problem?

In Massachusetts, politics is something of a blood sport, and nowhere has that been made more clear than in the recent “grand bargain” legislation to avert the placing on the ballot issues put forth by interest groups, many with the best of intentions. These would have had crippling effects on small business in the Commonwealth and a chilling effect on the potential recruitment of new companies to our state. The process is broken and must be addressed, and because some changes are constitutional in nature, ironically ballot reform may have to be addressed with yet another ballot measure.

The process for placing an item on the ballot on which the people will decide the result is relatively simple. First, one needs an idea for a problem they believe must be fixed that our representatives are not addressing. Ten registered voters later, the issue is presented to the Attorney General’s office for review of format and an initial assessment of legality and/or constitutionality. Then the organizers raise the money necessary to get 64,750 to sign the petition to place it on the ballot. They need not support the petition, but believe that it deserves a public vote.

From there, the issue goes merrily off to the Legislature which may adopt the question into law, propose a substitute or do nothing. Then, the issue proponents go out and gather an additional 10,792 signatures and the issue goes to the ballot. If there is a legislative substitute, both go to the ballot. Once on the ballot, the issue goes to the people who will, no doubt, be subject of well-funded campaigns put forth by organizers and opponents designed to cast the issue in its most or least favorable light. In November, the people decide – UNLESS there is some kind of Legislative compromise by which the proponents agree to pull off their question from the ballot. The gun is placed firmly at the Legislature’s head at this point, and regardless of the feasibility of the solution, only getting most of what proponents want will lead to the removal from the ballot.

What is wrong with this process? Mostly everything, sadly. The threshold to get something on the ballot is absurdly low. No policy is inherently all good or all bad, but there are reasons that these issues were not put forth by our elected legislators in the first place. The best they can do is make something “less bad” or from another perspective “less good”. We hire our legislators to make the best possible policy decisions for us. Sometimes they are right; sometimes they are wrong, but there are, and should be, consequences at the ballot box if they choose a disastrous change in the law.

This year, four particularly challenging ballot propositions came forward, three of which would have crippled small business in our state. The first, the millionaire’s tax, was struck down by the courts on constitutional grounds, but proponents vow to bring it back in a more constitutionally acceptable manner. The second, a sales tax reduction proposition, would have lowered the sales tax in Massachusetts from 6.25% to 5%, repealing what at one time was put forward as a temporary measure, but whenever government and revenue are involved, temporary has a way of turning permanent. And, if successful, the legislature would have sought to replace that revenue with some other tax or fee. The third, the paid family leave initiative would have placed a new tax on businesses and employees alike to fund a new government entity to ensure up to 26 weeks per year, a kindhearted gesture with real financial consequences that could have put small businesses out of businesses. The fourth was, for many small businesses, the most frightening - the increase in minimum wage to the highest in the nation, put forth by union groups with no members actually paid at minimum wage.

So, now we have a compromise. The sales tax remains the same but we will have a weekend sales tax holiday in August. Paid family leave has been cut back in length and small businesses (under 25 employees) are exempt from paying in – but their employees will have to pay in. And the minimum wage will go up to $15 per hour, with a gradual phase out of time and a half for Sundays. There will not be a teen or training wage component, virtually guaranteeing that no business will hire young people to learn the importance of work.

The so-called “grand bargain” gave proponents most of what they wanted, all of which have very real consequences for small businesses and large businesses alike. We citizens and taxpayers are held hostage by interest groups, and ballot initiative reform is a necessity in this state. Legislators are wary of addressing it for fear of being labeled as against the will of the people. Our legislators are forced to respond and compromise on issues they might otherwise never have addressed as remedies for the people of the Commonwealth.

Our citizens deserve a fair system, devoid of governance by special interests, and we welcome the opportunity to work with our legislators toward reforming the ballot initiative process and allowing them to do the job of fashioning good through a deliberative process.

The Southeastern Massachusetts Legislative Alliance of Chambers [SEMLAC] is comprised of the following chambers of commerce: Bristol County, Cape Cod Canal Region, Cranberry Country, Sandwich, SouthCoast, Taunton Area, Tri-Town and United Regional. SEMLAC represents the business interests of the communities each chamber serves and addresses policy issues of importance to the region as a whole.

When is a Grand Bargain Actually a Grand Problem?
When is a Grand Bargain Actually a Grand Problem?

Friday, June 29, 2018

MassBudget: Minimum wage increase would raise earnings of low- and middle-income families



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.

June 27, 2018




Minimum wage increase would raise earnings of low- and middle-income families

In a well-functioning economy, people who work full time should be able to earn enough to support themselves and their families. That's important for families and for the overall economy, which relies on consumer spending to keep local businesses thriving. Last week, in response to a multiyear grassroots campaign, the Massachusetts Legislature enacted House Bill 4640, which, among other things, would increase the Massachusetts minimum wage from $11 an hour to $15 by 2023. The bill would also increase the minimum wage that employers are obligated to pay tipped workers from $3.75 to $6.75 by 2023.
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) has published an analysis of the minimum wage provisions in the bill, which now awaits the Governor's signature or veto. The report, FAQ: The Massachusetts $15 Minimum Wage Proposal, finds the increase would raise the wages of about 840,000 Massachusetts workers, or 25 percent of the workforce.
Of those who will be directly affected by a minimum wage increase, 90 percent are at least 20 years old, 56 percent are women, and 55 percent work full-time.
MassBudget: Minimum wage increase would raise earnings of low- and middle-income families
Read the report here.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108


Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Friday, December 29, 2017

“We are working diligently to strike the right balance"

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"Despite support from a majority of its members, legislation raising the Massachusetts minimum wage from $11 to $15 is ending 2017 the same way it began the year - pending before the Democrat-controlled Labor and Workforce Development Committee. 
Meantime, citizen activists anxious to put a $15 wage floor on the lawbooks are moving forward with their plans to do so without any help from Beacon Hill. 
Raise Up Massachusetts, the coalition behind an initiative petition on track for a vote in November 2018, noted Wednesday that the minimum wage will rise on Jan. 1 in 18 states, but will remain the same in Massachusetts for the first time in four years. Arizona, Colorado, Maine, Oregon and Washington have approved minimum wages that exceed $11 an hour, and California and New York are already on schedule to bring their minimum wages up to $15 an hour. 
While minimum wage hike opponents have warned pay mandates will hold down job growth, the coalition said that since 2014, when the Massachusetts minimum wage was $8 an hour, employers have added more than 211,000 jobs in Massachusetts and the state’s low jobless rate points to a need for more workers."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20171228/no-bump-for-minimum-wage-earners-as-15-bill-hung-up-in-committee


Tuesday, December 26, 2017

MassBudget: Report finds wage increases do not relate to drops in teen employment



MassBudget  Information.
  Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center  Democracy.
Report finds wage increases do not relate to drops in teen employment
The economic security of lower income working families often depends not only on wages earned by parents, but also of working teens.

The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center's new report, "Teens, Employment, and the Minimum Wage," finds that working teens in families with total incomes of less than $47,000 often bring in a significant share of their family income -- almost 18 percent.
In addition to family necessities, many teens also face rising costs for college. 35.3 percent of recent high school graduates enrolled in college are also working. Studies have found, however, that students who work more than 20 hours a week tend to get lower grades and are less likely to graduate.

The most rigorous economic studies have found minimum wage increases have little or no effect on employment rates.

To read the full report, click here.
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108


Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Friday, September 22, 2017

MassBudget: 29% of Mass workers would be affected by $15 minimum wage





MassBudget
Information.
Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy CenterDemocracy.


$15 Minimum Wage Would Affect 29% of MA Workers; 
At Least 15% in Every Region
  
Updated data from the Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center finds that raising the minimum wage to $15 by 2022 would increase the wages of 29 percent of the Massachusetts workforce.
The MassBudget report based on Census data delineates the effect of a $15 minimum wage across 52 regions in the state, revealing that at least 15 percent of workers in every region of Massachusetts would see their wages rise from a minimum wage increase. In some regions more than 40 percent of wage earners would benefit.
In addition to the regional data, the report examines demographic data about those whose wages would increase: it finds that 90 percent are adults, 56 percent are women, and 55 percent work full-time.



You can read the new MassBudget fact sheet here (LINK).
The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER

TwitterFacebook
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Thursday, June 1, 2017

MassBudget: Backgrounder - Q&A about a $15 minimum wage




MassBudget Backgrounder
Information.
Participation.
 Massachusetts Budget and Policy CenterDemocracy.


Frequently Asked Questions about a $15 Minimum Wage
MassBudget has released a new fact sheet that examines issues related to the introduction of a $15 minimum wage in Massachusetts. It covers the following questions:
  • Who would be affected by a minimum wage increase to $15 per hour - their age and demographics?
  • How big an increase would the average minimum wage worker receive?
  • How are tipped workers like waiters covered under minimum wage laws, and how might they be affected by potential changes?
  • How has the minimum wage rate and its value changed over time in Massachusetts?
  • How has the relationship between wage growth and productivity growth changed in recent decades?
  • Which other states and cities have enacted a $15 minimum wage?
Read the new fact sheet HERE.  


The Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center (MassBudget) produces policy research, analysis, and data-driven recommendations focused on improving the lives of low- and middle-income children and adults, strengthening our state's economy, and enhancing the quality of life in Massachusetts.

MASSACHUSETTS BUDGET AND POLICY CENTER
15 COURT SQUARE, SUITE 700
BOSTON, MA 02108
TwitterFacebook
Massachusetts Budget and Policy Center, 15 Court Square, Suite 700, Boston, MA 02108

Sent by nberger@massbudget.org in collaboration with
Constant Contact

Friday, December 23, 2016

In the News: Stony Brook Camera Club; minimum wage; now what for recreational marijuana

From the Milford Daily News, articles of interest for Franklin:

"The Stony Brook Camera Club of Franklin will present the program "Fine Art Photography and Mixed Media: Creative Inspiration" by Stephen Sheffield at 7:30 p.m. Jan. 5 at the Anglican Church of the Redeemer, 31 Hayward St., Franklin. 
Sheffield, a native of the Boston area, is an alumnus of Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, where he obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in painting and mixed media. He went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts in photography and mixed media from the California College of the Arts in Oakland, studying directly under and working as assistant to Larry Sultan, as well as studying under Jean Finley, Jim Goldberg and others."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161222/stony-brook-camera-club-to-present-stephen-sheffield


"When the Massachusetts minimum wage increases to $11 per hour on Jan. 1, it will be among the highest in the nation, but that won't last long. 
"California and New York State have passed bills to raise their minimum wage to $15," said Andrew Farnitano, a spokesman for Raise Up Massachusetts, a coalition of labor unions, community organizations and religious groups advocating for a $15 minimum wage. "This is something where Massachusetts has historically been at or near the front of the country, and I think we're in danger of falling behind again if we don't continue to raise wages." 
Seven other states have plans to raise their minimum wages to even higher levels in the coming years, including New York, which will raise the hourly minimum wage for New York City to $13 next December, then to $15 effective Dec. 31, 2018. California's minimum wage will go to $11 in January 2018, then increase by $1 each year until hitting $15 in 2022."
Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161222/state-minimum-wage-increasing-to-11-in-new-year


"Voters in Massachusetts have legalized marijuana, but it will likely be more than a year before the first pot shops open in the state. 
In the meantime, there's a long to-do list for lawmakers and government officials and local officials. Following the Nov. 8 vote, policymakers will soon begin the process of implementing and regulating pot sales in the commonwealth, a process that could potentially see legislators alter the new law by enacting higher marijuana tax rates and adding regulations. On the local level communities like Marblehead are just beginning to wrap their heads around what legalization means for them. 
"It's not going to be a free for all," said Town Administrator John McGinn."

Continue reading the article online (subscription may be required)
http://www.milforddailynews.com/news/20161222/marijuanas-legal-in-massachusetts-so-now-what

Tuesday, November 1, 2016

Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) Informational Seminar - Nov 16

Earlier this year, the U.S. Department of Labor issued its much-anticipated final rule changing the regulations for the so-called "white collar" exemptions under the FLSA, and significantly increasing the minimum salary level necessary for employees to be properly classified as exempt executive, administrative, and professional employees.

The final rule and its increased salary requirements will take effect on December 1, 2016. 

The new regulations will:
  • Increase by slightly more than double the minimum salary level for exempt "white collar" employees from $455/week ($23,660/year) to $913/week ($47,476/year);
  • Raise the highly compensated employee ("HCE") threshold from $100,000 to $134,004; and
  • Automatically update every three years (1) the minimum salary level to the 40th percentile of full-time salaried workers in the lowest income region of the country; and (2) the HCE threshold to the 90th percentile of full-time salaried workers nationally.

No exception is made for small businesses. The final rule does not make any changes to the duties tests for executive, administrative and professional employees. The final rule also allows for up to 10 percent of the minimum salary level for non-HCE employees to be met by non-discretionary bonuses, incentives, or commissions, if these payments are made on at least a quarterly basis.

As a practical matter, these changes to the "white collar" regulations mean higher wages to employees, higher wage costs for employers, and likely increased exposure and risk to employers in wage and hour cases.

On November 16, 2016 at 8:00 AM at Dean College in the Campanella Board Room in the Campus Center. Attorney Michael Doherty will examine upcoming changes to the Fair Labor Standards Act regulation, which will go into effect on December 1, 2016. The new regulations will have a significant impact on whether will be eligible to earn overtime pay or whether they will be considered "exempt". 
United Regional Chamber of Commerce
United Regional
Chamber of Commerce

The Department of Labor has estimated that the upcoming changes will affect approximately 4.2 million employees across the country. Program attendees will learn about the current status of the regulations, the factors governing whether an employee is considered exempt from overtime laws, how the current regulations will change on December 1, 2016, and what employers can do now to prepare for the changes.

For complete information and details, visit The United Regional Chamber of Commerce's website at www.unitedregionalchamber.org or call 508-222-0801.