Marvin Woll: Minimum wage a casualty of HB2

Recently there has been a great deal of attention paid to HB2 and its affect on the LGBT community. This bill also includes a ban on counties and cities raising the minimum wage beyond the state level of $7.25. This is also a shameful situation.

The conservative philosophy used to be that government at the local level was better for residents than the state or federal government making those same decisions.

Around the country the minimum wage is beginning to rise. New York and California have begun the process to raise their minimum wages to $15. Twenty-six states have minimum wages that are higher than North Carolina’s. It is time for North Carolina to raise its minimum wage.

Our state legislature and governor need to stop playing the role of emperors and raise the minimum wage in North Carolina.

I would simply ask that the governor and legislature try living on $7.25 an hour. It is nearly impossible to provide a home and food for a family of two or three people on this wage.

HB2 is a disaster for the economy of the state of North Carolina. It must be repealed, and the minimum wage must be raised now and not two or three years from now.

This story was originally published April 6, 2016 at 5:53 PM with the headline "Marvin Woll: Minimum wage a casualty of HB2."