Governor Brown To Sign $15 Minimum Wage Bill Into Law On Monday
LOS ANGELES (CBSLA.com) — Governor Jerry Brown says he is ready to make history on Monday, when he plans to make California the first state in the nation to raise the minimum wage to a record-shattering $15 an hour.
"It's a matter of making a more secure, harmonious society," Governor Brown said.
"Those that earn the least do need more if they're going to pay for housing, food, and maybe college for their kids," he added.
The minimum wage will go up slowly over the next six years, starting with a 50 cent increase in January 2017.
Increases will continue until it hits $15 an hour in 2022.
However, the deal is causing worry among many local small business owners in the State.
"I would love to pay my employees $15 an hour, but I don't know how because we don't make that much money," a small business owner said.
Many Republicans agree, and have been hammering home that very point.
The new bill does give the Governor options to suspend wage increases if there's an economic downturn or budget deficits.
That's good enough for some -- who say it's about time.
"People can't live on $10 an hour. My son is 40 years old and he has 2 roommates, and has a good job," one man said.