Georgia Democrats in the Senate are pushing to raise the state’s minimum wage.
On Wednesday, Feb. 26, Sen. Kenya Wicks introduced Senate Bill 273, a piece of legislation aimed at raising Georgia’s minimum wage from $5.15 to $22 per hour. The bill seeks to provide a significant boost for working Georgians, who state Democrats believe have long struggled with low wages and rising living costs.
“The best time to fix this was yesterday; the next best time is to pay folks what they’re worth right now. Thousands of Georgians work full-time or more but struggle to afford the basics; many must take second or third jobs to scrape by. This bill would help change that,” Wicks said.
The proposed bill reflects the Georgia Senate Democrats’ efforts to advocate for higher wages for the working class.
Wicks expressed the belief that jobs with a living wage are the foundation of a strong and thriving economy.
Currently, Georgians face mounting financial pressure, with rising prices and stagnant wages, while corporations report record profits, according to Wicks and other Democrats.
The bill has received backing from the labor movement, with organizations such as the AFL-CIO highlighting the importance of raising the minimum wage to ensure workers have a share in the wealth they help create.
Nationally, raising the federal minimum wage could result in wage increases for up to 27.3 million workers and lift approximately 1.3 million families out of poverty, according to a report from the Congressional Budget Office.
Wicks’ proposal is part of a broader push to rewrite the economic rules in favor of working families.
