Gov. Newsom plays moderate, but his $20 minimum wage hike backfires with jobs lost, prices soaring, businesses fleeing

On this episode of the podcast, Amanda Head explores California’s recent $20 minimum wage hike for fast-food chains is making waves, and not in a good way. Head talks with Rebekah Paxton from the Employment Policies Institute who unpacks the real impact of the law, from 16,000 lost jobs to soaring menu prices and a growing shift toward automation and business relocation. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom and enacted on April 1, 2024, this policy is reshaping the industry and raising questions about its long-term consequences. The duo also explores whether similar wage mandates could take shape in other states.You can follow the work of Rebekah and her organization by following their accounts on X by searching for their handles: @PaxtonRebekah or @EPIOnline.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.