Opponents of failed California measure to raise minimum wage say voters 'made the right call'

Opponents of a defeated California ballot measure to rise the state's minimum wage said voters made the close telephone successful pushing backmost against a connection that would different person resulted successful higher inflation. 

Proposition 32, which would person raised California's minimum wage to $18 per hour, was narrowly beaten backmost arsenic lone 49.2% of voters supported the projected hike. The existent minimum wage successful the authorities is $16 per hour.

Fast-food restaurants with 60 oregon much locations are already mandated to wage their employees astatine slightest $20 per hour.

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A elector casts a ballot during the Super Tuesday superior astatine a polling presumption successful an American Legion Post successful Hawthorne, California, March 5, 2024. (PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images)

"Basic economics shows that raising the minimum wage yet drives up ostentation and unemployment, predictably hurting workers and families," Republican State Sen. Brian Jones, the precocious chamber's number leader, told Fox News Digital. "More ostentation and higher costs are the past things we request close now. Californians made the close telephone to cull Prop 32 and support fiscal stability."

Business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, California Restaurant Association and California Grocers Association opposed the measure, saying precocious labor costs would wounded tiny businesses. 

Chamber of Commerce CEO Jennifer Barrera told The Associated Press that the system and idiosyncratic costs were apical of caput successful the election, a connection that resonated with the voters.

An extracurricular presumption of a McDonald's restaurant. (iStock)

John Kabateck, the California manager for the National Federation of Independent Business, said minimum wage hikes amid a play of ostentation would person added to the existent economical woes galore residents already face. 

"At the extremity of the day, this truly came down to affordability for Californians already struggling," Kabateck told Fox News Digital. "People realized a higher minimum wage was not going to marque their atrocious concern that overmuch better."

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Joe Sanberg speaks astatine the property league for archetypal shipment of 3,000 L.A. produced look shields astatine LA County + USC Medical Center connected April 14, 2020 successful Los Angeles, California.  (Presley Ann/Getty Images for Emergency Supply Donor Group)

Prop 32 was authored by startup entrepreneur Joseph Sanberg, an anti-poverty advocator and large capitalist successful Blue Apron, the ingredient-and-recipe repast kit company.

"The clip is now, due to the fact that the pandemic has heightened the people’s knowing of the realities truthful galore Californians face," Sanberg said successful his authoritative ballot argument. "Cost of surviving is rising faster and faster... but wages haven’t accrued commensurately."

Fox News Digital has reached retired to Sanberg and assorted commercialized groups. 

Sanberg was heavy progressive successful spearheading Prop 32.

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Jones called the measurement a failed "publicity stunt" hatched by Sanberg that was portion of "his signifier of misleading Californians."

"Known for posing arsenic an environmentalist portion facing scrutiny for dubious claims, Sanberg shifted tactics by pushing a minimum wage hike and falsely branding himself arsenic a champion of the moving class," helium said. "Californians saw done his deception and rightly rejected his Prop 32 that would person decimated our economy."

Kabateck said policymakers successful Sacremento didn't look to beryllium successful interaction with tiny concern owners and voters struggling to get by.  

"At the extremity of the day, who doesn't privation a fewer dollars successful their pocket? But astatine what cost?" helium said.