An Alternative to Increasing Minimum Wage
I have never liked labels, but when someone once asked me what my political views were specifically, I stated,"If something hasn't worked to solve a problem, new solutions need to be found." For that statement I was labeled a "Progressive." There are a lot of people who convey a negative connotation to the label of being progressive, but those of us who agree we need to find solutions to solve the underlying problems, not the symptoms, are just exercising our common sense in working on collaborative ways to find solutions to benefit the many and not just the 1%.
So, here is my proposal in lieu of raising the minimum wage, because unless it is increased to $15.00 an hour, people will still be living in poverty if there are no new jobs created outside of the retail and dining industry.
I already know many small businesses paying considerably more than the hourly minimum wage because they know what is best for business. Paying employees a livable wage allows employees to not be under duress while at work thinking about how they will afford to pay their bills and support their families. Paying a livable wage also decreases turnover which in turn decreases training costs and product loss in the restaurant business.
My proposal is that small businesses with less that 51 employees who are already doing the right thing for Mainers by paying 200% or more of the Federal Minimum wage to at least 80% of their hourly employees, receive a state tax credit of $2,000.00 per employee who meets the criteria. This would reward Maine small businesses who are already doing what is right for business and Mainers by keeping workers off of public assistance. Big corporations already receive many tax credits but mostly provide low paying jobs or they would not locate in Maine. Small businesses in Maine employ 90% of the workforce in Maine but are not rewarded for doing so because they do not have lobbyists working for them in the State House.
One of the most contentious issues in Maine is the use of public assistance. When the average available full time jobs in Maine pay between $7.50 and $11.50 an hour, and those employers don't want to provide benefits so a full time schedule is not consistently given, continuing to work perpetuates a cycle of poverty and increases living costs such as transportation, child care, etc. The real problem here is the lack of good paying jobs, not an over use or misuse of public assistance. If we continue to fight the outcome caused by the lack of good paying jobs, we will never solve the problem.
So, here is my proposal in lieu of raising the minimum wage, because unless it is increased to $15.00 an hour, people will still be living in poverty if there are no new jobs created outside of the retail and dining industry.
I already know many small businesses paying considerably more than the hourly minimum wage because they know what is best for business. Paying employees a livable wage allows employees to not be under duress while at work thinking about how they will afford to pay their bills and support their families. Paying a livable wage also decreases turnover which in turn decreases training costs and product loss in the restaurant business.
My proposal is that small businesses with less that 51 employees who are already doing the right thing for Mainers by paying 200% or more of the Federal Minimum wage to at least 80% of their hourly employees, receive a state tax credit of $2,000.00 per employee who meets the criteria. This would reward Maine small businesses who are already doing what is right for business and Mainers by keeping workers off of public assistance. Big corporations already receive many tax credits but mostly provide low paying jobs or they would not locate in Maine. Small businesses in Maine employ 90% of the workforce in Maine but are not rewarded for doing so because they do not have lobbyists working for them in the State House.
One of the most contentious issues in Maine is the use of public assistance. When the average available full time jobs in Maine pay between $7.50 and $11.50 an hour, and those employers don't want to provide benefits so a full time schedule is not consistently given, continuing to work perpetuates a cycle of poverty and increases living costs such as transportation, child care, etc. The real problem here is the lack of good paying jobs, not an over use or misuse of public assistance. If we continue to fight the outcome caused by the lack of good paying jobs, we will never solve the problem.
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