A $15 an hour minimum wage should be mandatory, according to Democratic presidential candidate Bernie Sanders. “Millions of Americans are working for totally inadequate wages,” Sanders states on his website. “We must ensure that no full-time worker lives in poverty. The current federal minimum wage is starvation pay and must become a living wage. We must increase it to $15 an hour over the next several years.”
An increasing number of cities and states, including California and New York, are beginning to agree. Both recently passed $15 an hour minimum wage laws. However, the California Chamber of Commerce called the increase “a job killer.” “This is too much too fast,” said California Chamber President and CEO Allan Zaremberg. “It is unfortunate the Legislature didn’t take advantage of the opportunity to address the issue in a more balanced manner.”