The Democratic gubernatorial hopeful also called for gradually raising Maryland’s minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $16.70 by 2022 as part of larger economic plan.
“We know that when we put more money into the hands of middle-class workers, it gets spent, boosting the economy,” Mizeur (D-Montgomery) said, promising she would be “a champion for middle-class Marylanders.”
33 comments:
As a business owner, I'd like to know how can I survive paying this wage? If the starting wage is at $16 p hour, how much will my higher paid employees rate then go to? If you raise the rate from $7 to $16, everyone is going to want a bump as well. And my competition brings in illegals for cash, or workers from outside the US for a cheaper labor price? How does that work? Please explain this to me like I am 4 year old or politician?
Mizeur is one the most liberal, progressive Demo's in this state and needs to be put to rest quickly. She would make O'Malley likeable if she ever got to a higher office. Imagine that!
6:06
As someone else that manages a business, read "gradually by 2022" If you can't restructure by then, then your business isn't very sound.
And if you are already paying ALL of your employees only minimum wage, well then I'd hate to work for you!
There are lots of other reasons to oppose Mizeur but I don't think this is one of them.
That is just what me need to have a sick lesbian running Maryland. Maryland has already been ruined enough
Another of Jimmy's political buddies. Stop them!
6:06
You/we are already paying to subsidize their lack of wages thru all the welfare programs they have to participate in to make ends meet.
Your statement reveals that you do not care, that your employees are living in poverty and that we are paying for them to work for you so that you can line your pockets.
I agree with with 6:57.
It's appalling that employers are so clueless, as to think that employees can survive on the pittance they pay.
You wonder why we have no loyalty to you or your business. Why should we care when there is such a disparity, and we do realize that you could care less about us.
Greedy, you don't wear it well.
6:57 said "As someone else that manages a business read "gradually by 2022" If you can't restructure by then, then your business isn't very sound.
6:57, You do realize 2022 is only 9 years away and that's a $9 increase in less than 9 years or to put it another way $1 per year or 10-15% per year(talk about adding to inflation).
Also you obviously didn't read 6:06's comment as they asked "how much will my higher paid employees rate then go to?". Nowhere in their statement did they say they only had minimum wage employees.
If I'm making $10/hour now and this went into effect in 9 years I would expect to make $22-25/hr. I hope your business can support that.
7:44
I fail to understand your complaint.
Lets see you mean I will make more money???? I will finally earn a livable wage???? How dare anyone tell me I don't have to live in poverty anymore
Apparently 6:06 doesn't give his employees yearly raises, or this would be a mute issue, now wouldn't it.
If they also received equal incremental increases over the next 9 years, I don't see a problem.
You can't keep them in poverty forever. 6:06 must have a revolving door on staff, since they must continue to seek other employment that pays better to survive.
So "just another worker bee" you really believe that if wages double that the price of goods you buy won't also double.
If minimum wage now is not a livable wage what makes you think that a minimum wage of $16/hr. in 9 years will be a livable wage(it won't).
From your comments you're making assumptions about 6:06 that are not supported by any comments 6:06made. e.g. (You can't keep them in poverty forever. 6:06 must have a revolving door on staff...)
Whoever said minimum wage was supposed to be a livable wage anyways. That's why it's called a minimum wage(aka entry level wage).
Just so you know I'm a worker bee also and would like to see a higher paycheck. Which I would if the government wasn't taking 25% of my $400/wk. If we were to have a balanced budget this would have to be 40%.
Boy, oh boy! What a cheapskate she is!
Why not mandate a change to the pay rate a legislator gets? Or the same rate as the governor?
That way we'd all be rolling in the dough, and we'd all be paying more taxes, and we'd all be spending even more than today.
Waiting until 2022? Heck, no. Let the good times roll starting with the first day of the upcoming session. OweMalley and cronies can arrange to compress the day and have all the required readings and approvals done in one day.
We can have our deserved major raise before the Christmas bills are mailed. Don't be so cheap; after all, you're spending other folks' money. Use a firehose, not a squirt gun!
/sarc off
8:38
that whole "entry level" label is a ruse, designed not to have to pay anyone a reasonable wage and use their talents and under pay them. I have worked in companies that use it regularly.
6:06 states his competition is bringing in illegal and paying them cash. We all know illegals typically make minimum wage for cash or less per hour, its not that wild of an assumption to make. Anyone that pays that poorly has a revolving door on staff, simply part of business as usual.
Businesses and corporations are posting their highest earnings ever and the middle and lower class are getting poorer and poorer because their wages have been stagnant as prices have more than doubled for gas, heat, groceries etc.. So that whole, it will cost me more scenario is also a lie used by corps to scalp consumers.
You complain about taxes, well, that 25% is your contribution to those minimum wage workers on welfare/Medicaid. And they thank you for your contribution.
You are going to pay for it either way. At least as a consumer you have a choice to buy it or not and shop around.
As the government now has it, you have no choice, you are paying the tax like it or not.
The balanced budget? What has that got to do with minimum wage?
Answer all your questions/comments?
To those who have commented about 6:06 being cheap, mean, whatever, exactly how much do you think you are worth? If you are worth that much, then you should be already working for a company or business that PAYS that much because you obviously must have skills that far exceed the average "entry into the work force" person that earns minimum wage (such as teens, no training, lack of training or education etc). Entry level positions are not intended to provide a lavish lifestyle --nobody is forcing you to work for minimum wage--if you are such a great worker, then another business would be delighted to hire you...my first job was at a fast food place was for $3.35 an hour...working there nights/weekends/summers gave me work experience that I could put on other applications to show I had experience, work ethic etc. and I was able to work my up in wages as I gained experience with whatever job I had...
and, by the way, to 8:10...it is MOOT not MUTE...mute is a person who can't speak.
5:39 lives in a fantasy world.
Employers do not care what your worth is, they care about not having to pay you your worth and get you for as cheap as they can.
It's a harsh reality and sorry to spring it on you.
This is why they are posting record profits as their workers suffer in poverty.
But thank you for correcting and focusing on my grammar instead of the content of the post.
I do not see any reference to 6:06 being mean or cheap, but whatever, thank you for pointing out something that doesn't exist.
Goes to show your worth.
From 7:44
10:16 asked: Answer all your questions/comments? No you didn't.
"that whole "entry level" label is a ruse, ... I have worked in companies that use it regularly."
(If someone had talent than they wouldn't be working in an entry level/minimum wage job. Even burger flippers at McKing don't stay at min wage)
"6:06 states his competition is bringing in illegal and paying them cash. We all know illegals typically make minimum wage ... Anyone that pays that poorly has a revolving door on staff, simply part of business as usual."
(Not always true that illegals make min wage. They cost less because of no FICA/Medicare costs etc. If a business has a revolving door on staff because they don't pay as well as a similar business then they will go out of business because of poor quality service(from the revolving staff) causing customers to go elsewhere or they will flourish because of lower prices bringing in more customers resulting in the higher paying business failing)
"Businesses and corporations are posting their highest earnings ever"
(Only true in a few business sectors and don't confuse profits with earnings)
"and the middle and lower class are getting poorer and poorer because their wages have been stagnant"
(Very true, mostly due to the high unemployment levels of the past 5 years and govt. tax policy that makes it more profitable for investors[people with disposable cash]to play the stock market then to invest in creating or expanding a business which would cause wages to increase and bring in more tax revenue)
"as prices have more than doubled for gas, heat, groceries etc..."
(Cause and effect, heat & groceries have doubled because the price of gas[virtual monopoly] has doubled and if wages were to double then they would double again).
"So that whole, it will cost me more scenario is also a lie used by corps to scalp consumers."
(Not a lie see above statement).
"The balanced budget? What has that got to do with minimum wage?"
(Never said it had anything to do with min wage. Just stating that if all workers had to pay for the actual cost of govt. that even we lower paid workers would be paying 40% in taxes the wealthy would be paying 80%)
6:06 here.
Don't ever reply but since my post had so many negative comments. Funny you don't know me, but you appear to know how I value a persons worth. I grew up in a poor family farm, worked my way through college, and started my business with the $10k sale of my cows, now almost 15 years ago.
For the record, I am a business owner who has 31 full time employees. None make less than $40k, they get full insurance coverage of which we pay 50%, dental, eye and 10 days vacation a year. In 12 years we have had one person leave the company. Since we do a portion of our work in construction which in some cases carry the need to temp workers who have limited skills, we constantly find themselves complaining that they are too good for the job, rather than doing something about the fact that they cannot do better. One person can bring a company down, and that includes the lowest paid employee. For me, you pay based on talent, on work ethics, and on results. I go to bed each night with the pressure in knowing that I have my own family, my employees, their children, and to make a bottom line profit to stay in business. And btw, my highest salary in any year never exceeded $150k, so rich I am not. For those who left the negative remarks, I can only say, take a look in the mirror, get off of your couch, and fix your problem.
anonymous 10:10, Thank You, in so many ways. Thank you for taking the time to comment. Thank you for being a hard working American and providing so many great jobs.
May you enjoy many more years of success as you truly deserve it.
9:24 you are wrong on SO many levels, you don't know what you are talking about.
Fact is you do stay at minimum wage at McD's despite your talents and many other jobs.
I know businesses here in Salisbury that have not raised their salaries for 10 years, They are offering the same $9/hr for the same job 10 years ago.
You are so so so far off the mark and clueless that trying to explain to you how it is in the real world would be a waste of typing.
When you work in the employment industry and see what we see every single day, then you can give us your wisdom.
Not only is it a joke but it is insulting to employment candidates what some of these employers are offering to pay them, degrees or no degrees, experience or no experience.
In the real world, employers want you for cheap, they do not care how many jobs you have to work to make ends meet.
Some day maybe we can live in your fantasy world, but right now we are too busy dealing with the reality of the low wage mentality that exists in this community and others.
9:24
Your post is wrong and I agree with 5:21.
Do you realize that there are college graduates working for minimum wage, if they can even find a job. I guess their education and talent account for nothing in this economy.
I have unemployed friends with years of experience and all they can find are $10/hr jobs, part time mostly and no benefits. Their talents must not account for much either.
I wish the reality was as you described it, but its not.
I lost my job to a company closing in 2009 and am currently making the same wages I was making in 2003 at a 45% pay reduction. I guess my talents account for nothing.
Yea yea, I am sure I will get the usual snarky feedback that the problem is with me, but its not.
I interviewed one company, and after reviewing my resume had the audacity to offer me a job at $11/hr and oh, I had to pay $400/month for healthcare because they did not contribute. They were clueless to how anyone was going to live on that, nor did they care. I said no.
I see ads for SU and Worwic,.... need a degree and they pay $10/hr. Really? How's that diploma workin out for you? Can they afford to repay their student loans at that wage while trying to keep a roof over their heads? $10 with a degree.......
Fast food... the only reason they pay what they pay now is because they were forced to with min. wage increases, which was way overdue.
I don't know what world you are living in, but you are simply wrong.
5:21 Your post shows that you are just a government shill. I know what I'm talking about having worked in numerous jobs over a 40 year period including private and government with and without a degree. It is govt. policies that have us in the predicament we are in i.e. high unemployment. Of course business is going to pay the lowest rate possible for low skill jobs and I know plenty of people who work at McKing who started at min wage and now make more. All businesses give pay raises over time even if new hires may start at min wage. Yes a PhD may work for min wage at an entry level job but one should do what one needs to do until the appropriate paying job comes along. Ihstead of being a leech on society and collecting welfare or having more children than one can afford. I can guarantee I have lived in the real world much longer than you and have no illusions of what the world is really like. OC Barry
5:21 A few more things, I entered this conversation at 7:44 because of the negative comments aimed at 6:06(having established his bona fides in his 10:10 post) who stated truths as he saw them from his own business viewpoint. Having studied economic theory for over 40 years I know his statements from his original post at 6:06 to be true. OC Barry
OC Barry
I believe I was clear stating I worked in the employment industry not the government. That makes me more of an authority than you on wages and jobs. All employers do not give raises, despite your claim.
You are a pompous fool and don't know what you are talking about.
But I appreciate the insults, even though it is obvious by your response that you did not read or comprehend the words in my post.
To all the whiners out there, maybe you should have read my 9:24post again and paid attention to where I responded to a statement ["and the middle and lower class are getting poorer and poorer because their wages have been stagnant"
(Very true, mostly due to the high unemployment levels of the past 5 years and govt. tax policy that makes it more profitable for investors[people with disposable cash]to play the stock market then to invest in creating or expanding a business which would cause wages to increase and bring in more tax revenue)].
Competition for workers not competition for jobs is what creates higher pay.
I understand times are tough for a lot of people but blaming companies for paying market wages is the wrong response. Try blaming the government for improperly rigging the market. I'm not saying it is wrong for the govt. to try to control the market(to a point) I'm just saying govt. is doing it totally bass ackwards. Same as Salisbury has done with downtown redevelopment over the last 20 years. If they had done a mixed use(apts. for SU seniors with transit to/from the U and light business and tech areas) partnership with Salisbury U the urban blight downtown would have been gone years ago. OC Barry
8:33 Final comment. I guess being improperly called a government shill is more insulting than being called a pompous fool. Sorry for the name calling my apologies. I stand by my statements. OC Barry
OC Barry
I do not see anyone whining, as you put it, I see people in a conversation concerning a news article.
Why be condescending, what's the pay off?
Wages have not been stagnant, they are going backwards.
Employers are not even paying "market" wages, they are paying poverty wages. Big difference.
Again, you do not and have not worked in the employment industry for over 40 years.
You can "study" economics all you want, but until you have actually had real world experience dealing with employers and employees on the level that we have, quite simply, you have no clue what you are talking about, what it is like, and what people are dealing with on a day to day basis.
So you go back to making a hypothesis and we will go back to rolling up our sleeves and dealing with this issue in real time.
Your simplistic theory as to why people are not investing in business is flawed and I notice you do not even mention the white elephant in the room - ACA, which has demolished the lives of many many people who are now.... part time workers, making even less.
But don't let my information educate you, because by your attitude, you already know it all.
Enjoy that narrow path you are on...
I do not understand 6:06 original question. Last time there was a raise in minimum wages, I did not get any additional raise to balance out the disparity, nor did anyone I know of that was making more than minimum wage.
That seems to be the way it goes.
And he doesn't pay anyone less than 40K.
If he is giving annual raises, then what's the issue? They will already be upped.
Anonymous said...
As a business owner, I'd like to know how can I survive paying this wage? If the starting wage is at $16 p hour, how much will my higher paid employees rate then go to? If you raise the rate from $7 to $16, everyone is going to want a bump as well. And my competition brings in illegals for cash, or workers from outside the US for a cheaper labor price? How does that work? Please explain this to me like I am 4 year old or politician?
November 7, 2013 at 6:06 PM
That Bump is called compression and that is the worst thing that could happen to employees as well as the business owners. You might as well close your doors now.
Why is it that Liberals are always more concerned about the lower achievers instead of the ones that work harder, went to college, took the right degree or trade.
If you are an employee making $7 and hour then maybe you should have figured out what the employee making $16 was doing right.
If you take a job with a city as a street sweeper or ditch digger making $8 there is no way in the world you deserver making $25 like a highly trained police officer makes.
Anonymous said...
6:06
As someone else that manages a business, read "gradually by 2022" If you can't restructure by then, then your business isn't very sound.
And if you are already paying ALL of your employees only minimum wage, well then I'd hate to work for you!
There are lots of other reasons to oppose Mizeur but I don't think this is one of them.
November 7, 2013 at 6:57 PM
A lying Liberal has obviously sprung his head. I would like to know what so called business you manage. My bets are you don't.
Just another worker bee said...
6:06
You/we are already paying to subsidize their lack of wages thru all the welfare programs they have to participate in to make ends meet.
Your statement reveals that you do not care, that your employees are living in poverty and that we are paying for them to work for you so that you can line your pockets.
I agree with with 6:57.
It's appalling that employers are so clueless, as to think that employees can survive on the pittance they pay.
You wonder why we have no loyalty to you or your business. Why should we care when there is such a disparity, and we do realize that you could care less about us.
Greedy, you don't wear it well.
November 7, 2013 at 7:42 PM
If you don't like what you are getting paid then get the training, education and certification required to offer you a better salary. The fact that you mentioned subsidies and welfare proves that you are part of the entitlement crowd.
Just another worker bee said...
7:44
I fail to understand your complaint.
Lets see you mean I will make more money???? I will finally earn a livable wage???? How dare anyone tell me I don't have to live in poverty anymore
Apparently 6:06 doesn't give his employees yearly raises, or this would be a mute issue, now wouldn't it.
If they also received equal incremental increases over the next 9 years, I don't see a problem.
You can't keep them in poverty forever. 6:06 must have a revolving door on staff, since they must continue to seek other employment that pays better to survive.
November 7, 2013 at 8:10 PM
Democrat
By the way Bozo managing a business and owning one is 2 different things. Managing one means you obviously don't own it so you like spending someone elses money.
November 7, 2013 at 9:35 PM
Not only the wages they make, but let's throw in all the perks like housing, office space, per diem, meals, transportation, executive security, etc.
If Del. Heather R. Mizeur pledges to forgo all of her salary as an elected or appointed government official from this point forward I will vote for her.
8:28 - 8:34
You lose all creditability on your pointless ranting's with the name calling.
Better to Remain Silent and Be Thought a Fool than to Speak and Remove All Doubt
Your ignorant comments do not even correlate to the posters comment.
One in particular is where 7:42 points out that companies (such as walmart) have a high number of worker on welfare, where we are subsidizing their pay thru higher taxes, and then you go on a rant stating:
"The fact that you mentioned subsidies and welfare proves that you are part of the entitlement crowd. "
Really?
Your stupidity made me laugh.
November 10, 2013 at 11:47 AM
Let me guess. You voted for Obama. Never mind, no need to answer as I already know the answer. You are a very bitter liberal who can't get the job of their dreams so you want the government to up your wages or give you a job just because you feel entitled.
1:59
Typical, you have no facts so you simply make stuff up and throw insults. I am surprised you didn't include calling me a racist.
Here's a few facts for you.
The minimum wage has been increased 29 (TWENTY NINE!!!) times since 1938
Opponents of raising the minimum wage argue that increasing the minimum wage would result in higher unemployment because it would cost more to hire employees.
This argument is weak because a study conducted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago showed that as a result of Chicago increasing their minimum wage by $1, consumer spending increased as well.
In addition, a study from the Economic Policy Institute shows that CEOs get paid 273 (TWO HUNDRED SEVENTY THREE) times the pay of their average worker. This statistic clearly shows that the companies can afford a pay increase due to the disparity between CEO salaries and worker salaries.
Raising it would help bring families out of poverty. A worker who spends their day working full time but is paid minimum wage is not able to support their family.
For many working Americans an increase in the minimum wage will make the difference between living in poverty and not.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 3.66 million workers paid by the hour earn at or below the minimum wage. An increase in this living wage is a strong response to the stagnant incomes that many of these workers face.
Contrary to popular opinion, the average worker affected by an increase in the minimum wage is not just a teenager flipping hamburgers. Only one in fourteen is a teenage student from a family with above average earnings.
The fact is, almost two-thirds of minimum wage workers are adults, and four in ten are the sole bread winner of their family.
Twenty percent of those living on the minimum wage were in poverty, and an additional 13% were near poverty
The American public supports increasing the minimum wage by a solid margin. Nearly every survey finds overwhelming support for raising the minimum wage.
I don't see where you stated anything other than your opinion, where are your facts?
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