It's possible, even probable, that Bob Ballinger's intentions are good. But, when it comes to the minimum wage in Arkansas, We the People will just have to sit on our blisters. The election was convincing. Besides, you know where the road of good intentions leads.
The gentleman from Hindsville probably understands how raising the minimum wage hurts those who need unskilled jobs the most. Which may be why the state senator has filled Senate Bill 115, which would exempt certain workers from the increase passed by Arkansas voters only two months ago.
His bill would exempt anyone under 18 (understandable), as well as employees of nonprofits (understandable) or employees of small businesses (understandable). It's as if Sen. Ballinger knows that raising the minimum wage would force employers to save money by getting rid of young workers--or, more likely, not hiring them in the first place.
This very column begged the voters not to increase the minimum wage back in November. But up it goes, from $8.50 to $11 by 2021. Arkansas already has a higher minimum wage than the feds require, not to mention the highest of any neighboring state.
But try to convince young people, when they're promised a raise, that any raise might mean fewer jobs. Or that the TV commercials claiming a rise in the minimum wage was only "fair," and not job-destroying. Or that the last raise came only a few years back in 2014, or the part about neighboring states, or the feds' minimum, or any other logical argument. When somebody hears "raise," that sometimes can be all they hear.
"It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it." Upton Sinclair might have meant that in a different sense, but it makes perfect sense in several ways.
So now Bob Ballinger wants to "fix" that vote. And get around the initiated act and $11-an-hour.
Thanks, senator, but no thanks.
We're Ivory Soap-certain that his bill would help business. But two-thirds of the voters in November voted for this increase. Those of us who'd hope for the best should only hope the minimum wage doesn't hurt too much. That is, that the economy stays humming along, and jobs remain plentiful, so that the minimum wage isn't a factor in hiring (or not hiring). And that the next effort to raise the minimum wage--is it every four years now?--is less successful, so the natural state of the ecomomy can eventually catch up.
But getting around the vote?
Regnat populus.
The people rule in this state. It's more than a motto. It's a good idea.
Editorial on 01/22/2019