BallotReady Explains Colorado's Minimum Wage Measure

Today we're gonna be talking about   Amendment 70: Colorado's $12 minimum wage amendment. In August, Colorado Secretary of State Wayne Williams   announced that in their November general   election ballot, they would have an   amendment to raise their state minimum wage.   Now this measure would raise the   minimum wage from $8.3 All the way   up to twelve dollars by 2020.   Colorado's current minimum wage is based on 2006   constitutional amendment similar to that   of Amendement 70.

Colorado is currently one   of ten states to tie its minimum wage to   inflation. And in 2009 it became the first   state to decrease its minimum wage. This   new measure would change the criteria   for adjustment from inflation to cost of   living increases. According to supporters   this raise in  minimum wage would benefit   twenty percent of households in Colorado.

 And according to a study from the Bell   Policy Center women make up fifty   five percent of those who would benefit   if this amendment 70 passes. And   according to the same study, thirty   percent of those who would benefit are   adults over 20 with children.   Supporters believe that raising the minimum wage   will increase consumer spending and   boost the economy. How? The logic is that   lower and middle-income workers will   spend their wages within the community.

 But that's not the whole story.   Opponents of Amendment 70 believe that   prices and costs of living will increase   as business owners will have to   compensate for their employees' increase   in pay.   They argue that raising the minimum wage   might reduce job growth. For example they   say that small business owners or   farmers might not be able to afford the   raise in minimum wage and reduce their   operations.

 Unemployment is a major debate in this   and Colorado's disparity between its   most and least expensive areas is the 12th   highest in the nation.   This means that this raise the minimum   wage could have a huge difference in   different areas in Colorado. There's no   clear-cut solution when it comes to   policies concerning minimum   wage but you can do your part to stay   informed by visiting BallotReady.Org.   Give the video a thumbs up if you liked it   and see you next time!.