Proposition 32 - $18 Minimum Wage Initiative

VOTE NO 

Summary:

Proposition 32 seeks to raise California’s minimum wage to $18 per hour by 2026. For employers with 26 or more employees, the wage would increase to $17 per hour in 2024 and $18 per hour by 2025. Smaller employers would have until 2026 to reach the $18 threshold. This proposition also pauses the inflation adjustments to the minimum wage until 2027, after which annual increases will resume. The current minimum wage in California is $16 per hour, and without Proposition 32, it would rise to around $17 per hour by 2026 due to inflation adjustments.

Why We Do Not Support Proposition 32:

Thrive LA PAC opposes Proposition 32 due to concerns over its potential negative impact on small businesses and the broader economy. Raising the minimum wage to $18 per hour could place excessive financial strain on small businesses, many of which are still recovering from the effects of the pandemic. These businesses may struggle to absorb the higher labor costs, leading to potential layoffs, price increases for consumers, or even closures. Furthermore, the proposition could increase the cost of living across the state, as businesses pass on their higher operating costs to customers. Thrive LA PAC advocates for economic policies that foster business growth and employment opportunities, and while wage increases can be beneficial, we believe this measure could have unintended consequences that hurt job creation and economic stability.