Does Louisiana Need a $15 an Hour Minimum Wage? [VIDEO]

101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty discuss the ongoing idea of an increased minimum wage for American workers, a bump from the current $7.25 an hour to a proposed $15.

The move, which would occur in increments thought the year 2024, has been a hot topic on both a state and national level for some time, is being reintroduced by some Democrats in Congress. Business owners in Louisiana have spoken out against the hike, saying it would put a strain on local businesses and would most likely cost jobs.

A few more details on the soon-to-be proposed legislation from npr.org:

"Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 would increase the pay of at least 17 million people, but also put 1.3 million Americans out of work, according to a study by the Congressional Budget Office.

The CBO wrote that in an average week in 2025, 1.3 million otherwise-employed workers would be jobless if the federal minimum wage went up to $15. CBO economists wrote that resulting job losses would likely range between 'about zero and 3.7 million.'"