So I was thinking...

[Soundwave]

We need to get rid of minimum wage in NH. National min. wage is $6.15 now.

It's something I've just started to think about. Any thoughts?

[maxxoccupancy]

We need to get rid of minimum wage in NH. National min. wage is $6.15 now.

It's something I've just started to think about. Any thoughts?

Yeah, I love that Soundwave avatar.  I've got a copy of Transformers that Movie if you want to borrow it.

As far as the minimum wage is concerned, we can ameliorate the negative effects of the minimum wage by reducing the overall cost of doing business in NH.  There are less controversial ways to foster job growth, like reducing (or eliminating) certain payroll taxes, business taxes, and regulatory fines.  There are so many laws, licensing rules, housing codes, and unfunded mandates that make life difficult for business owners.

And most people support the idea of creating a better business climate in NH, even if they are still wishy washy about minimum wage laws.

--Max

[aries]

When did it go up? I thought it was 5.15/hour

[d_goddard]

I just want to echo what Max says.
NH has way too many regulations in general -- these need to be whittled down, a bit at a time.

"Making it easier for businesses to hire people" is a great tagline for some of these easiest, most popular cuts.

[Atlas]

We need to get rid of minimum wage in NH. National min. wage is $6.15 now.

I'm all for it (getting rid of it).

[Dreepa]

I agree but.... I don't think it is the first battle that you need to do.

[Fluff and Stuff]

We need to get rid of minimum wage in NH. National min. wage is $6.15 now.

It's something I've just started to think about. Any thoughts?

Maybe you are talking about the FL min. wage because it is not that high in most of the nation (including NH).  Anyway, in NH, most people make far more than the min. wage.  In fact, NH has close to the highest pay in the nation.  I doubt that min. wage laws cause problems in the vast majority of NH.

However, several states don't have min. wage laws and it means very little because there is a federal law...

[aries]

I wouldn't work for minimum wage.

I dont know anyone that would.

Actually I might be earning close to it with my FAFSA work study, but that is also "free" money on top of the hourly pay, and I will get a second job in College, since I have class monday/wed/fri just from 9-10AM. Other days I have class all day. So any activities we have, I will be more likely to be able to go to.

[d_goddard]

I wouldn't work for minimum wage.

I would.
Especially if there were no other, more lucrative options available in the immediate term.

I am 100% sure I could be so useful in any job, within 1 week my employer would be requesting I take on more responsibilities with better compensation. Within a few years I would expect to be not far off from where I am now in income (not rich not not living in a dumpster, either) because that's about the value I bring to the organization.

It's never about the job on offer; it's always about what value you bring to the employer.

[maxxoccupancy]

States like Wyoming have opted out, leaving them with in ineffectual $1.60 per hour.  Washigton state voters passed a $6.00 an hour minimum wage, but didn't read the fine print.  Counting the 50 cent increase and the built in COLA (with a ridiculous COLA measurement), jobs paying less than $7.00 an hour are now illegal.  That leaves Washington with the 2nd highest unemployment rate in the nation, and a tough market for younger and less experienced workers.

However, one employer told me that he pays almost as much for liability insurance as he does for payroll.  Others pay more for regulatory compliance, and some are being sued out of business.  ADA mandates can add millions to cost of doing business for a single building.  Environmental impact studies can add two or three years to public and private projects, and often double the cost of freeway projects.  Socialists of course deny any such thing, calling you a liar or scaremonger when you point out the obvious.

--Max

[PowerPenguin]

Nullfication kicks booty 8-). BTW I'm meeting w/ Steve Kubby tomorrow (among others) speaking of MJ. Any unique questions that *haven't* already been answered 10 million times?

[citizen_142002]

I started my job at $6.00, but that was a couple years ago. I thought it was still five something in NH.

It's so low that it's hardly effectual. I know of very few places that start at minimum wage.

[d_goddard]

Nullfication kicks booty 8-). BTW I'm meeting w/ Steve Kubby tomorrow (among others) speaking of MJ. Any unique questions that *haven't* already been answered 10 million times?

Ask him when he's moving to NH.
Tell him we'll help with the move and throw a big party when he gets here!

[Rocketman]

I worked for minimum wage briefly back in the mid-nineties... crap, I think it was $4.25 or something.  If a person has no job skills or experience, beginning at the minimum wage level is the only way.  Holding a McDonald's job at least demonstrates to future employers that you are responsible enough to show up for work (and put up with a lot of shit -- the job skill I still lack  ).

I agree that cutting or eliminating the minimum wage shouldn't be the first battle.  But I think it's important for reasons that don't occur to 99% of the population.  Not only would it make it easier for employers to hire people, it would give them greater flexibility on how they hire people.  What comes to mind is old-fashioned apprenticeships, 21st Century style.  A skilled employer/educator could pay less than the minimum, and young, unskilled workers looking for a trade would be better off working for $3 an hour and learning a marketable skill as opposed to making $5.15 or whatever in a dead-end service job.

Making less than the minimum but learning a skill looks even better next to the other, overused option: paying out the arse for college and not learning jack $#%+!  At the community and technical college where I recently taught, our so-called "apprenticeship programs" were the most useful thing we had going, but I couldn't help thinking the private sector could, if allowed, provide better opportunities for the truly motivated by bypassing the college system altogether.

But as long as NH doesn't become one of those dumbass states that goes above and beyond the national minimum wage, I guess we're doing okay for now.   

[FTL_Ian]

Ask him when he's moving to NH.
Tell him we'll help with the move and throw a big party when he gets here!

Likely the only way Steve would come to NH is if we totally decriminalized marijuana.  He's finally got what he has spent the last decade fighting for.  I don't think he'd want to give it up to fight all over again.