California’s $20 fast-food wage law backfires

Published October 1, 2025 5:00am ET



Gov. Gavin Newsom (D-CA) was all smiles two years ago when he signed the FAST Recovery Act, creating a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers in his state.

He called the legislation a win-win-win that would benefit restaurant owners, their employees, and customers alike. Fast forward two years, and all those wins he touted are turning into big losses, according to the Employment Policies Institute.

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