John Bel For Increased Minimum Wage, But Higher Taxes, Too

Does it make sense that a politician would, on one hand, want to mandate an increase in the minimum wage, only to turn around and take it away in the form of increased taxes?

Well, that's the seeming logic of Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards, who has proposed legislation that would increase the state's minimum wage from the current $7.25 an hour to $8.50, a $50 increase for anyone working a 40-hour-week. But, Edwards would turn around and take back a great deal of that increased pay by implementing any number of new taxes and fees to avoid what he repeatedly refers to as the state's "fiscal cliff".

That's the point made by 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright, who asks if the real purpose of Edwards call for an increased minimum wage isn't really to circumvent lawmakers and impose an "indirect" tax increase on Louisiana businesses, who would be paying the salary boosts, only to see them go from their workers into state coffers.