minimum wage

If you own a McDonalds, Burger King, KFC or any other franchise inside the Seattle city limits, your wallet just took a hit.

The Washington Legislature is close to passing a minimum wage increase. It would go up to $10 an hour in 2016 and rise to $12 in phases over 4 years. The idea is to give every person who works hard and does a good job a living wage. I'm not sure I agree, but I feel self-conscious talking about it. I'll share my thoughts if you share yours.

We've already seen the first  fallout from Seattle's new $15 minimum wage, the major relocation by a well-known Northwest outdoor manufacturer. WA officials should heed the warnings from California.

It was inevitable, especially if you consider economic principles. There are more who will follow.

On the heels of yet another raise to the nation's highest minimum wage rate,  House Bill 2672 would set in motion a gradual increase of the wage offered entry-level and unskilled workers to $12 by the year 2017.

It's part of the ongoing effort to either unionize fast-food workers,  or at least get a $15 minimum wage put in place.

Seattle business leaders - even some who supported idea - are now "terrified" of $15-per-hour minimum wage.  And there's an even scarier proposal that could move implementation way forward.

Thursday,  there's going to be a fast-food workers rally at Highway 395 and Kennewick Ave, where these people will be demanding $15-an-hour for their jobs.

Seattle has made it official.  They're jumping off the economic diving board and going to find out if the controversial $15-dollar-an-hour minimum wage works...or not.

For many experts and economists, dealing with politicians has become like beating their head against a rock.   Here comes yet another credible study showing raising the minimum wage doesn't do any good, and in fact, hurts the people it was designed to help.