A measure that would raise the minimum wage to $8 an hour beginning on July 1st of 2018 was killed by the Senate Finance Committee for a second consecutive year.

The bill is by New Orleans Senator Troy Carter who says raising the minimum wage will benefit the state as a whole.

“The residuals of giving people an opportunity to earn a living wage and to get off public assistance has so much collateral impact to the community.”

Shreveport Senator Greg Tarver offered an amendment to put the minimum wage up to the voters. He says it’s hard to believe employers are not willing to pay workers a little more.

“This dollar isn’t going to hurt the businessman, if this dollar is going to hurt the businessman he shouldn’t have been in business anyway. This dollar isn’t going to hurt anybody.”

The bill would also increase the minimum wage to $8.50 an hour beginning on January 1st, 2019. But Metairie Senator Conrad Appel spoke out in opposition and says the current $7.25 minimum wage is not the problem in Louisiana…

“Really the problem in Louisiana with income isn’t minimum wage, it’s the fact that we have no growth, we have no jobs for people to have.”

Slidell Senator Sharon Hewitt also opposes the legislation. She says it’s not up to the people to decide what businesses should pay.

“It is the choice of the business what they pay and the choice of the people is to seek a job that fits their needs in terms of hours and wages.”

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