Oklahoma Governor Bans Minimum Wage Increases

Governor of Oklahoma Mary Fallin (R) signed a law that prohibits cities in her state from establishing mandatory minimum wage increases. The act was seen as a move to protect local small business communities.

“Mandating an increase in the minimum wage would require businesses to fire many of those part-time workers. It would create a hardship for small business owners, stifle job creation and increase costs for consumers,” Fallin said. “And it would do all of these things without even addressing the goal of reducing poverty.”

State Rep. Randy Grau (R) said, “This bill provides a level playing field for all municipalities in Oklahoma. An artificial raise in the minimum wage could derail local economies in a matter of months. This is a fair measure for consumers, workers and small business owners.”

Oklahoma City currently has a $7.25 an hour minimum wage. Meanwhile, Oklahoma City based Hobby Lobby voluntarily decided to hike their minimum wage to $14 an hour. This was the fifth year in a row they decided to do so and the move was seen as a boon to people overburdened by crushing federal income taxes.

The act by Hobby Lobby is perfect timing coming on Tax Day to show that more government is not needed in order to raise wages. It paints a stark contrast to the federal government, which takes our money, to the free market which provides us with it.




Does the minimum wage hurt workers?

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