Plan to raise California minimum wage to $15 clears key panelSACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - A plan to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022 cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday, putting the state on track to become the first in the nation to commit to such a large pay hike for the working poor. The measure, incorporating a deal Governor Jerry Brown reached with labor leaders and fellow Democrats in the Legislature, was approved on a party-line vote of 12-7 by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where a previous version of the bill had stalled last summer. One Democrat, Tom Daly, joined six Republicans in opposing the measure, which now advances to the full Assembly for action as early as this week. It would then return to the Senate for a final vote. If enacted, the bill would put California, home to one of the world’s biggest economies, in the vanguard of a growing number of U.S. states and cities that have moved in recent years to surpass the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Supporters say such measures are necessary to help low-paid workers who have been slipping into poverty due to stagnant earnings and rising living expenses. Opponents say raising the mandatory wage floor puts undue strain on businesses still struggling to rebound from a prolonged U.S. economic slump. The measure would gradually raise California’s hourly minimum wage from the current level of $10 to $15 by 2022 for large businesses and by 2023 for smaller firms. It also would head off a pair of competing ballot initiatives lacking a provision to allow the governor to suspend the increases in hard economic times, a deal breaker for Brown. Raising the minimum wage has cropped up on many Democratic candidates’ agendas ahead of the November elections, and the issue could help galvanize supporters at the polls. But passage is not assured without backing from more moderate Democrats, including business-friendly Assembly members in swing districts who have recently held up bills that were priorities for the party’s progressive wing, including a plan to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the governor’s office, 2.2 million Californians earn the state minimum wage of $10 an hour. The bill would ultimately benefit 5.6 million workers, raising their wages by an average of 24 percent, according to an analysis from the University of California, Berkeley. Retail employees account for 16 percent of affected workers, and restaurant employees 15 percent. politicsNews
plan raise california minimum wage clears key panelsacramento reuters a plan raise california minimum wage hour cleared first legislative hurdle wednesday putting state track become first nation commit large pay hike working poor the measure incorporating deal governor jerry brown reached labor leaders fellow democrats legislature approved vote assembly appropriations committee previous version bill stalled last summer one democrat tom daly joined six republicans opposing measure advances full assembly action early week it would return senate final vote if enacted bill would put california home one world biggest economies vanguard growing number states cities moved recent years surpass federal minimum wage remained hour since supporters say measures necessary help workers slipping poverty due stagnant earnings rising living expenses opponents say raising mandatory wage floor puts undue strain businesses still struggling rebound prolonged economic slump the measure would gradually raise california hourly minimum wage current level large businesses smaller firms it also would head pair competing ballot initiatives lacking provision allow governor suspend increases hard economic times deal breaker brown raising minimum wage cropped many democratic candidates agendas ahead november elections issue could help galvanize supporters polls but passage assured without backing moderate democrats including assembly members swing districts recently held bills priorities party progressive wing including plan cut state greenhouse gas emissions according governor office million california earn state minimum wage hour the bill would ultimately benefit million workers raising wages average percent according analysis university california berkeley retail employees account percent affected workers restaurant employees percent politicsnews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: Plan to raise California minimum wage to $15 clears key panelSACRAMENTO, Calif. (Reuters) - A plan to raise California’s minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2022 cleared its first legislative hurdle on Wednesday, putting the state on track to become the first in the nation to commit to such a large pay hike for the working poor. The measure, incorporating a deal Governor Jerry Brown reached with labor leaders and fellow Democrats in the Legislature, was approved on a party-line vote of 12-7 by the Assembly Appropriations Committee, where a previous version of the bill had stalled last summer. One Democrat, Tom Daly, joined six Republicans in opposing the measure, which now advances to the full Assembly for action as early as this week. It would then return to the Senate for a final vote. If enacted, the bill would put California, home to one of the world’s biggest economies, in the vanguard of a growing number of U.S. states and cities that have moved in recent years to surpass the federal minimum wage, which has remained at $7.25 an hour since 2009. Supporters say such measures are necessary to help low-paid workers who have been slipping into poverty due to stagnant earnings and rising living expenses. Opponents say raising the mandatory wage floor puts undue strain on businesses still struggling to rebound from a prolonged U.S. economic slump. The measure would gradually raise California’s hourly minimum wage from the current level of $10 to $15 by 2022 for large businesses and by 2023 for smaller firms. It also would head off a pair of competing ballot initiatives lacking a provision to allow the governor to suspend the increases in hard economic times, a deal breaker for Brown. Raising the minimum wage has cropped up on many Democratic candidates’ agendas ahead of the November elections, and the issue could help galvanize supporters at the polls. But passage is not assured without backing from more moderate Democrats, including business-friendly Assembly members in swing districts who have recently held up bills that were priorities for the party’s progressive wing, including a plan to cut the state’s greenhouse gas emissions. According to the governor’s office, 2.2 million Californians earn the state minimum wage of $10 an hour. The bill would ultimately benefit 5.6 million workers, raising their wages by an average of 24 percent, according to an analysis from the University of California, Berkeley. Retail employees account for 16 percent of affected workers, and restaurant employees 15 percent. politicsNews
Your task is to classify the provided input as real or fake news. Label 0 is meant for fake news, Label 1 is for real news. TEXT: plan raise california minimum wage clears key panelsacramento reuters a plan raise california minimum wage hour cleared first legislative hurdle wednesday putting state track become first nation commit large pay hike working poor the measure incorporating deal governor jerry brown reached labor leaders fellow democrats legislature approved vote assembly appropriations committee previous version bill stalled last summer one democrat tom daly joined six republicans opposing measure advances full assembly action early week it would return senate final vote if enacted bill would put california home one world biggest economies vanguard growing number states cities moved recent years surpass federal minimum wage remained hour since supporters say measures necessary help workers slipping poverty due stagnant earnings rising living expenses opponents say raising mandatory wage floor puts undue strain businesses still struggling rebound prolonged economic slump the measure would gradually raise california hourly minimum wage current level large businesses smaller firms it also would head pair competing ballot initiatives lacking provision allow governor suspend increases hard economic times deal breaker brown raising minimum wage cropped many democratic candidates agendas ahead november elections issue could help galvanize supporters polls but passage assured without backing moderate democrats including assembly members swing districts recently held bills priorities party progressive wing including plan cut state greenhouse gas emissions according governor office million california earn state minimum wage hour the bill would ultimately benefit million workers raising wages average percent according analysis university california berkeley retail employees account percent affected workers restaurant employees percent politicsnews