This is good news, I don't care for the libertarian free market attitudes of valuing labor based on how well someone else pays them for a job. Only problem I have is that the difference between certain states in cost of living seems to be greater than the relative difference in minimum wage such as, California and Montana. Although people are quick to point out that an exuberant minimum wage will drive business away to other states, I fail to see how it is reasonable to let many people struggle to live in LA or San Fran since rent is so expensive and in some areas, $8-$9 just doesn't cut it sometimes. But maybe the problem is only this big in California (the only state I really have any experience) due to certain propositions that have drastically altered property taxes.
Onward Minimum wage, I support it, but my Libertarian friend is against it, and says that it people should be able to tell companies what they will work for. I told him that that would only drive wages down further, because of the competition that would emerge to get the jobs.
This irked me. If you're raising minimum wage, chances are you're doing so people can afford basic necessities and to keep up with inflation, you're not magically saying "oh well this is higher now so we need a more qualified person". Raising minimum wage should never be "raising the bar"."And when you raise the minimum wage, you kind of are raising the bar," Lester says.
New Mexico isn't in the list, but my fair city, ABQ, has just raised the min wage a buck an hour. THANK GOODNESS. As a barista, I make minimum wage, get tips from time to time. I need the extra forty bucks a week, let me tell you.