Who could have predicted that California’s massive minimum wage hike would have “negative consequences?” Well, RedState certainly did, along with everyone else who wasn’t a hard-left progressive.
The law, which mandated a $20 per hour minimum wage for fast food workers at franchises that have more than 60 locations in the Golden State, went into effect in April 2024. But wait, there’s more! The law created the Fast Food Council — and gave it the green light to impose further wage increases yearly until 2029, when the council’s authority runs out.
What are the effects of the law, AB 1228? UC Santa Cruz Economics Lecturer Stephen Owen decided to find out, and surprise, surprise:
“Based on what we’ve found, I think this legislation is a classic case of ‘no good deed goes unpunished,’” Owen said. “There are unintended consequences and knock-on effects, and overall, I think the results have definitely not been as positive as policymakers had been expecting.”