SACRAMENTO, CA -- Backers of Prop. 210, the initiative to raise the minimum wage, hailed today's U.S. Department of Labor report that the nation's economy created 210,000 new jobs in October, after the $.50 increase in the federal minimum wage. This job growth represented a sharp turn-around from September, when non-farm jobs had fallen by 35,000.
"Today's report that 200,000 new jobs were created since the Oct. 1 increase in the federal minimum wage shows how false are the opposition's claims that Prop. 210 will cost California jobs," said Yes on 210 Campaign Manager Richard Holober. "The same naysayers who said the federal $.50 increase would cost jobs also claim that Prop. 210 will cost California jobs. There has been no detectable negative impact from the increased minimum wage. Poverty wage employers cry that the sky will fall if we increase the earnings of low-wage workers. Today's report shows they are inventing stories to cover their real reason for opposing Prop. 210: maximum greed."
"There have been 15 increases in the minimum wage over the last 60 years, and never has there been job loss.," said Holober. "Now is the perfect time to raise the minimum wage. Consumer spending slowed to a near standstill in the third
quarter, which ended in September. Prop. 210 will boost consumer spending just at the right time."
Holober said today's Labor Department report that unemployment was unchanged in October is further evidence that the economy will easily absorb Prop. 210's modest increase. "Where are all the lost jobs poverty wage employers predicted? Those lost jobs exist only in the minds of those who wish to preserve poverty pay in California. Prop. 210 will boost California's economy."
"Combined with last week's release of positive findings from a review
of economic studies of past minimum wage increases by the Center on Budget
and Policy Priorities, this week's news of a boost to the national economy
from the Oct. 1 minimum wage increase should reassure voters that Prop.
210 is good for California," said Holober.
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