Democrats Renew Calls For Higher Minimum Wage Amid Hiring Woes

By Justin Hicks, WNIN

May 27, 2021

Indiana Senate Democrats are renewing their calls for increasing the state’s minimum wage as typically lower-wage businesses like restaurants say they can’t hire enough workers.

Democrats have tried passing measures, including a few during the legislative session this year, to gradually increase the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour. In every attempt, most Republicans have blocked their efforts.

Now Democrats are echoing economists in saying that low-wage jobs – not necessarily unemployment benefits – are causing workers to stay at home.

Senate Minority Leader Greg Taylor (D-Indianapolis) anticipates this summer will be hard for workers struggling to find affordable child care as unemployment programs end. He points out the legislative session technically isn’t over and says they could fix this immediately by passing a bill to raise the minimum wage.

“We can do it now, without the governor calling us back,” he said.

The state’s current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour, although many employers voluntarily pay more than that.

Fran Hunter owns a neighborhood bar and grill called Hunter’s Place on Main Street in Elkhart. She said she’s had a “Now Hiring” sign up for weeks. In that time, she’s only had one person apply.

Federal COVID-19 relief funding is providing K-12 schools with an influx of critically-needed cash, but millions of dollars are also providing support for early childhood education. Part of the funding will go toward a child care scholarship program for essential workers in the state.

The Community Foundation Alliance's City of Evansville Endowment Fund is accepting applications from non-profit organizations needing money for capital projects.

WNIN is the NPR/PBS affiliate in Evansville, Indiana. We serve Southwestern Indiana, Western Kentucky and Southern Illinois from our multimedia facility located on the Ohio River in downtown Evansville. For the past several years, the recognized quality of our local news has placed us among the best small market radio news organizations in the nation.