Wage boost helps a lot

Socialism, big government, illegal immigration, cry the Koch brothers. How dare government-loving New Dealers give 28 million young citizens a less stingy wage? (“Senate Republicans block federal minimum wage increase,” May 1.)

Ron Unz, California’s Republican 1994 gubernatorial candidate, says otherwise. Raising the minimum wage disqualifies people from welfare, pays income, sales and Social Security taxes, lowers the debt, stimulates consumers and brings undocumented workers out of the shadows. It creates productivity and less employee turnover, says Craig Jelinek, Costco’s chief executive officer. Read the tea leaves, Sens. Ted Cruz and Marco Rubio: Trickle-up economics works.

Two-thirds of minimum-wage jobs are in fast-food corporations (Princeton study). Seattle’s “15 Now” proposition distinguishes businesses of 500 employees from mom-and-pops. It adjusts downward for health care and tips.

Papa John’s billionaire John Schnatter whines that Obamacare will raise the cost of a pizza slice by 14 cents. Until CNN reported half of his 14,000 employees were part time (exempt)! Might he sell his $600 million Mammon-idol mansion to afford $10.10 an hour?

Mike Kraft

Spokane