Channeling the spirit of workplace reform, the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on Wednesday favorably moved two bills by Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans one to ultimately increase the states minimum wage to $8.50 an hour and the other to enact a non-discrimination policy for Louisiana employees who identify as LGBTQ. <\/p>\n
Senate Bill 153, which was approved for full Senate debate on a 4-2 vote, would increase the states minimum wage from the federal minimum hourly wage of $7.25 to $8 an hour starting Jan. 1, 2018, and $8.50 beginning Jan. 1, 2019. <\/p>\n
Senate Bill 155 carried 3-1, with committee chairman Neil Riser opposing. It would enact the Louisiana Employment Non-Discrimination Act, which would add language to existing law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation, gender identity or expression. <\/p>\n
Carter said the minimum wage has not been increased since 2009, though the cost of goods has continued to rise some by as much as 35 percent. <\/p>\n
Jan Moller, Louisiana Budget Project director, said 42 percent of Louisiana households struggle to meet a survival budget. He reported only 10 percent of minimum wage workers are teenagers, two-thirds are women and half are African-American. <\/p>\n
Gov. John Bel Edwards in a statement issued Wednesday expressed his support for the measure. <\/p>\n
If we say that family values are critical to our way of life here in Louisiana, its time to start valuing the hardworking families who contribute a great deal to our communities. <\/p>\n
We have a crisis in Louisiana a crisis of systemic poverty, said former Rep. Melissa Flournoy, who chairs Louisiana Progress Action and spoke in support of the bill. <\/p>\n
While Sen. Regina Barrow, D-Baton Rouge, lamented that moving from $7.25 to $8 really just isnt enough, Sen. Barrow Peacock, R-Bossier City, fumed at a bill supporter who attacked Walmart for not providing its employees a livable income. <\/p>\n
I cant believe you would single out a corporate company that is very generous, Peacock said, arguing Walmart is the biggest contributor to the Louisiana Food Bank. Peacock voted against sending the bill to the Senate floor. <\/p>\n
Louisiana Association of Business and Industry head Jim Patterson argued the minimum wage is an entry-level starting wage and is not intended to be a living wage. <\/p>\n
Similarly, Dawn Starns of the National Federation of Independent Businesses said it is never a good time to increase the cost of doing business, which she said is what the minimum wage increase implies. <\/p>\n
In his closing, Carter chided opponents who said his legislation might cripple the American system of free-market capitalism. <\/p>\n
Our American system was to build our country on free labor, Carter said. We dont call it slavery anymore, but we might as well. <\/p>\n
Senate Bill 155 proved a much quicker debate, with Dylan Waguespack from Louisiana Trans Advocates testifying on behalf of the proposed act. <\/p>\n
Waguespack, who is a transgender male and works in the Capitol, said he had to decide whether he should come out to the lawmakers he saw on a regular basis. <\/p>\n
Nobody should have to leave in fear of being fired because of who they love or who they are, said Sarah Jane Guidry, director of the Forum for Equality. <\/p>\n
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Bills upping minimum wage, protecting LGBTQ advance - The INDsider<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Channeling the spirit of workplace reform, the Senate Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations on Wednesday favorably moved two bills by Sen. Troy Carter, D-New Orleans one to ultimately increase the states minimum wage to $8.50 an hour and the other to enact a non-discrimination policy for Louisiana employees who identify as LGBTQ. Continue reading