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The NYT reports that in a unanimous vote, the Seattle City Council went where no big-city lawmakers have gone before, raising the local minimum wage to $15 an hour, more than double the federal minimum, and pushing Seattle to the forefront of urban efforts to address income inequality. "Even before the Great Recession a lot of us have started to have doubt and concern about the basic economic promise that underpins economic life in the United States," says Council Member Sally J. Clark. "Today Seattle answers that challenge." High-tech, fast-growing Seattle, population 634,535, is home to Amazon.com, Zillow, and Starbucks. It also has more than 100,000 workers whose incomes are insufficient to support their families, according to city figures and around 14% of Seattle's population lives below the poverty level. Some business owners have questioned the proposal saying that the city's booming economy is creating an illusion of permanence. "We're living in this bubble of Amazon, but that's not going to go on," says businessman Tom Douglas. "There's going to be some terrific price inflation."
(Score: 2) by Thexalon on Thursday June 05 2014, @02:04PM
If you are a single person with an annual income of less than 133% of the federal poverty line (currently $15521.10 a year), then you are eligible for Medicaid, and do not pay the penalty.
The only thing that stops a bad guy with a compiler is a good guy with a compiler.
(Score: 1) by compro01 on Thursday June 05 2014, @02:32PM
Only if you live in a state that accepted the medicaid expansion, which is only about half of them.
(Score: 2) by Sir Garlon on Thursday June 05 2014, @03:06PM
And somehow that is Obama's fault, I'm sure.
[Sir Garlon] is the marvellest knight that is now living, for he destroyeth many good knights, for he goeth invisible.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Thursday June 05 2014, @09:26PM
And somehow that is Obama's fault, I'm sure.
Maybe, maybe not, but it is the way it is... and Obama is commander in chief.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 2) by monster on Friday June 06 2014, @10:07AM
Commander in chief != Emperor
The POTUS has indeed some margin to do stuff, but drafting most legislation is the sole jurisdiction of Congress and Senate, Obama just has the option to veto it (and even his veto can be overturned).
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Thursday June 05 2014, @03:08PM
So don't live in one of the stupid states. I thought that was the whole point of America, you can move freely between the states and they are supposed to be competing with each other.
(Score: 2) by jasassin on Friday June 06 2014, @12:57AM
I thought that was the whole point of America, you can move freely between the states and they are supposed to be competing with each other.
I don't think you grasp the concept of the United States of America. We leave each other alone unless they try to gank our bank. But we do rifle the barrels and machine the bolts.
jasassin@gmail.com GPG Key ID: 0xE6462C68A9A3DB5A
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Friday June 06 2014, @02:55AM
Yea, exactally. Your a states rights kinda country who dont want the feds messin' with ya stuff. And if your state does something stupid compared to other states, just move to a sensible state. Eventually when the better ideas get the kinks worked out the feds can implement the best solution for the country. You know, competition of ideas.
If your state/city goes bankrupt or everyone dies because they have no healthcare the other states/cities benefit from the sensible people realising what's happening and leaving for greener pastures. Stupid people of course will hold those bibles and guns closer and get angry when all the other cities/states leave them behind.