More consequences of Seattle’s $15 minimum wage are becoming apparent. According to recent reports, as their wages rise, workers are asking employers for fewer hours in hopes of keeping their overall income down—they do not want to lose access to certain welfare programs for food, child care, rent, etc. Fox News,
“Full Life Care, a home nursing nonprofit, told KIRO-TV in Seattle that several workers want to work less.
“‘If they cut down their hours to stay on those subsidies because the $15 per hour minimum wage didn’t actually help get them out of poverty, all you’ve done is put a burden on the business and given false hope to a lot of people,’ said Jason Rantz, host of the Jason Rantz show on 97.3 KIRO-FM.”
Certainly, the rising wages in Seattle have done nothing to achieve its agenda: bring people out of poverty. That reality is made obvious by the fact that welfare caseloads remain unaffected. Fox News,
“Despite a booming economy throughout western Washington, the state’s welfare caseload has dropped very little since the higher wage phase began in Seattle in April. In March 130,851 people were enrolled in the Basic Food program. In April, the caseload dropped to 130,376.”
So, as a result of the $15 minimum wage, many workers are asking their employers for fewer hours in order to qualify for welfare programs. Meanwhile, as the result of the $15 minimum wage ordinance, prices across the city are increasing.
Ladies and gentlemen, the “helping hand” of liberals.
