Florida is the next battleground for the minimum wage, as a state Congressman is pushing a bill to get the wage to $15 hourly by 2017.
Rep. Victor Torres in the Florida House filed a bill that will be addressed in the 2016 legislative session, according to the Daily Caller.
State Sen. Dwight Bullard introduced an identical bill last month.
The bill would also increase the minimum wage “by the rate of inflation,” so it would creep up every year.
Republicans control the House of Representatives and the Senate in Florida, as well as the governor’s office. It is unlikely that the bill will be passed.
Regardless, Florida joins Maine, Kansas City, and Washington D.C., among others, clamoring for higher minimum wages.
The steep increase differs from most other examples. Kansas City wouldn’t reach a $15 hourly minimum wage until 2020. St. Louis restaurant owners are concerned about higher wages forcing up their prices.
The hourly minimum wage in Florida, currently at $8.05, would almost double within two years. Such a quick, direct shock could lead to an uptick in unemployment, as payroll costs for small businesses tend to be a larger concern than at mid-sized and large companies.
