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Impact to agriculture with a $15 minimum wage
Raising the minimum wage to $15 is part of President Biden’s COVID relief package being considered by Congress.
Minnesota House Agriculture Committee chair Mike Sundin, a Democrat from Carlton County, says he can see both sides as farmers and agribusinesses weigh the potential impact.
“I’ve always been an advocate for the working man, no matter where he or she works. And of course increases wages do increase the overhead for any business employing people.”
But he tells Brownfield products aren’t as valuable if people can’t afford them.
“If a wage earner, after 40 hours or work, still qualifies for food stamps and public assistance, that wage isn’t sufficient.”
Either way, Sundin says taxpayers end up paying for it.
Biden campaigned on raising the minimum wage and included the $15 an hour proposal in his $1.9 trillion relief package.
This story originally appeared on the Voice of Muscatine. Read More local stories here.
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