SB 120-06: Raise the Wage Act - Passed

[PPT Spiral]

Raise the Wage Act

SENATE BILL

To gradually increase the federal minimum wage

Be it enacted,

Section I: The Minimum Wage

1. 29 U.S.C shall be amended as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than $15.00 $19.50 an hour;

2. F.L. 29-18 Rewarding Hard Work Act shall be amended as follows:

a) Starting from January 1, 2022 2024, the federal minimum wage shall increase by $2 $1.50 at the start of each year until it reaches $15 $19.50.

Section II: Implementation

1. This act takes effect immediately.

Sponsor: Pyro

Debate has commenced and the Senator is recognized.

[YE]

How did we get to $15 even? Last time I was relevant at the federal level we had it at like $12.50. I think I wanted every Labor administration to raise it as a $1 back in the day until we got to $15.

[Pyro]

Working-class Atlasians are overdue for a raise. This proposal will raise the federal minimum age over the course of three years to $19.50. This shall be a gradual shift in wages to ensure low-income workers can make ends meet as they face high prices and the decreasing value of the dollar.

How did we get to $15 even? Last time I was relevant at the federal level we had it at like $12.50. I think I wanted every Labor administration to raise it as a $1 back in the day until we got to $15.

President Sestak signed the Rewarding Hard Work Act in 2021 that increased the wage.

[Pyro]

Proposing a minor amendment to adjust the effective date to January 2025. This will allow ample time for businesses to prepare for the increase, and will significantly reduce the inflationary impact of a wage increase.

Raise the Wage Act

SENATE BILL

To gradually increase the federal minimum wage

Be it enacted,

Section I: The Minimum Wage

1. 29 U.S.C shall be amended as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than $15.00 $19.50 an hour;

2. F.L. 29-18 Rewarding Hard Work Act shall be amended as follows:

a) Starting from January 1, 2022 2024 2025, the federal minimum wage shall increase by $2 $1.50 at the start of each year until it reaches $15 $19.50.

Section II: Implementation

1. This act takes effect immediately.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

I feel like this might be something better done by having some CoL index (maybe per county or state?) that would have the minimum wage tied to that, with a floor of 15$ an hour which is increased with inflation.

The issue is of course, what would go into that index. But the point stands that the best minimum wage in Mobile isn't the same as San Francisco, which won't be the same as Billings. And we run a risk of going *over* the amount that would be best for the cost of living in some places, causing prices, inflation, and cost of living to rise with it. It's probably best to have some nuance here. But I'm willing to hear the Senator's arguments against my own.

[PPT Spiral]

Forgot to say a tad earlier, but Pyro's amendment has been adopted.

[Adam Griffin]

I will support whatever we ultimately decide, but I would - assuming until we have no further statute/constitutional resets - love to see us calculate an ideal minimum wage with automatic inflation adjustment so that we never have to worry about the subject ever again. Of course, this might require regular quarterly/annual inflation estimates from the GM in order to be viable, but that's a relatively small price to pay (figuratively speaking!).

[YE]

Let the regions raise it further if they want. The federal wage should be a floor here.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

The Administration will be happy to sign a minimum wage increase into law.
It was a Labor President who most recently increased the federal minimum wage and in line with my campaign promises I support a further increase in the minimum wage likewise.
Rewarding hard work is of course important. Of course the way it precisely is done should probably take into account regional cost-of-living differences if possible.

[Pyro]

I certainly would not be opposed to an amendment that adjusts the minimum wage to reflect the present rate of inflation. I'd likewise be amenable to modifying this according to the average living expense per region/state/etc, as long as we ensure all Atlasians may be guaranteed a living wage. As YE stated, we are establishing a renewed base level of pay for workers across the country. Regional governments may indeed raise the amount further if they so choose, but we mustn't neglect the importance of raising wages for all when conditions necessitate action.

My fellow senators are welcome to submit the alterations discussed as they so choose.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Raise the Wage Act

SENATE BILL

To gradually increase the federal minimum wage

Be it enacted,

Section I: The Minimum Wage

1. 29 U.S.C shall be amended as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than $15.00 $19.50 $18.00 an hour;

2. F.L. 29-18 Rewarding Hard Work Act shall be amended as follows:

a) Starting from January 1, 2022 2025, the federal minimum wage shall increase by $2 $1.50 at the start of each year until it reaches $15 $19.50$18.00. Beginning January 1, 2027, the federal minimum wage shall increase by the same percentage as inflation, on a quarter-yearly basis.

Section II: Implementation

1. This act takes effect immediately.

Amendment. I think 19.50 is a bit excessive outside of the west coast and Acela corridor, but I do live in a low CoL area so I could be wrong. Let me know if I implemented the inflation part incorrectly.

[Adam Griffin]

Do we have an alternatively defined inflation metric in Fantasyland currently? If not, are we using CPI, CPI-e, PCE, or what?

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

Do we have an alternatively defined inflation metric in Fantasyland currently? If not, are we using CPI, CPI-e, PCE, or what?

Considering the GM team has made stories including inflation numbers, I don't think it'd be crazy to ask us to do that 4 times a year. Could even make it a year-by-year thing if that ends up being too much.

[President Punxsutawney Phil]

Do we have an alternatively defined inflation metric in Fantasyland currently? If not, are we using CPI, CPI-e, PCE, or what?

Considering the GM team has made stories including inflation numbers, I don't think it'd be crazy to ask us to do that 4 times a year. Could even make it a year-by-year thing if that ends up being too much.

Well that's good to hear.

[Adam Griffin]

Do we have an alternatively defined inflation metric in Fantasyland currently? If not, are we using CPI, CPI-e, PCE, or what?

Considering the GM team has made stories including inflation numbers, I don't think it'd be crazy to ask us to do that 4 times a year. Could even make it a year-by-year thing if that ends up being too much.

I remember doing monthly inflation estimates when I was GM, so it's definitely doable - but that was when it was just me and there was a lot more leeway at the time in terms of taking into account regional policy changes and the like.

Still, I'm curious: is there any defined metric (by IRL standards or otherwise) on how it is calculated by the GM team in the present day? I don't want to offer an inflation-adjusted amendment if there is no defined way by which to calculate it that is compatible with any restrictions or parameters used by the GM team currently.

[PPT Spiral]

WB's amendment here was adopted without objection, for the record.

[YE]

Is anyone here not in favor of $18?

[Pyro]

Motion for a final vote.

[PPT Spiral]

The final text of the legislation as amended:

Raise the Wage Act

SENATE BILL

To gradually increase the federal minimum wage

Be it enacted,

Section I: The Minimum Wage

1. 29 U.S.C shall be amended as follows:

(1) except as otherwise provided in this section, not less than $15.00 $18.00 an hour;

2. F.L. 29-18 Rewarding Hard Work Act shall be amended as follows:

a) Starting from January 1, 2022 2025, the federal minimum wage shall increase by $2 $1.50 at the start of each year until it reaches $15 $18.00. Beginning January 1, 2027, the federal minimum wage shall increase by the same percentage as inflation, on a quarter-yearly basis.

Section II: Implementation

1. This act takes effect immediately.

A final vote shall now commence for the next 96 hours. Senators, please vote Aye, Nay, or Abstain.

[GM Team Member and Senator WB]

aye

[LAKISYLVANIA]

aye

[reagente]

Nay

[At-Large Senator LouisvilleThunder]

Nay

[Pyro]

Aye

[Dr. MB]

Aye