Support a Two-Tiered Minimum Wage | by Allen Weh

[box type=”info” style=”rounded”]ALLEN WEH was the 2014 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Mr. Weh is currently the CEO of CSI Aviation Inc. [/box] To the surprise of virtually no one, the minimum wage is now being debated in the current state legislative session. A Democratic legislative initiative to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an […]

Support a Two-Tiered Minimum Wage | by Allen Weh

[box type=”info” style=”rounded”]ALLEN WEH was the 2014 Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Mr. Weh is currently the CEO of CSI Aviation Inc. [/box]

To the surprise of virtually no one, the minimum wage is now being debated in the current state legislative session. A Democratic legislative initiative to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from the current $7.50 was recently tabled in a House Committee on a 4-3 vote, and opponents and proponents were vocal on their respective merits of the issue. Of note, an Albuquerque Journal article on Feb. 3 cited a “recent Journal poll found that 68 percent of New Mexico voters supported an increase in the minimum wage (but didn’t specify how much) while 27 percent opposed any increase.”

A few months ago in the Senate race, I sought to advance a creative idea that would raise the minimum wage for some, while creating incentives for small businesses and opportunities for our youngest workers. This is a solution that can help members of our state Legislature resolve the minimum wage issue with a win-win solution.

For starters, if the minimum wage hasn’t been increased in a few years and a majority of citizens want an increase, it makes sense to do this. The cost of living has gone up since it was last raised, so it makes sense that we ought to keep up with that at the very least, but in a common-sense, constructive way.

We should have a two-tiered minimum wage that allows for workers below 26 to receive a lower wage (by the way, 26 may be negotiable). We should all want to remedy the chronic, teen unemployment problem that creates harmful societal consequences. We should also want to find a way to help some people get a hand up without an “across-the-board” increase that hurts New Mexico’s economy and our small businesses.

At best, young people who can’t find jobs simply fail to learn valuable work ethics, skills and self-discipline. At worst, the absence of a job for young people creates idle time that often results in their getting into trouble. The juvenile delinquency and street crime that can result can handicap their future forever. Moreover, youth criminal activity has a real financial cost to municipalities and the state. None of these consequences are good ones.

Now that the issue is up for debate, I encourage legislators on both sides of the aisle in Santa Fe to construct a two-tiered minimum-wage bill that addresses these issues for the benefit of all New Mexicans. If our legislators can produce a good compromise bill, we’ll achieve four wins: A win for older workers who’ll get a raise; a win for kids who’ll get a job they otherwise wouldn’t; a win for our courts and correctional system because we’ll reduce the number of kids getting into trouble with the law; and a win small businesses that depend upon cost-effective, entry-level labor to be profitable and keep their doors open.

Neither Democrats nor Republicans can have it one way on this issue. I encourage pragmatic compromise by both sides to resolve this matter for everyone’s benefit.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report