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On Tuesday, June 16th we must vote NO on SQ 832 as it is perhaps the most dangerous state question we will have ever voted on. If it passes, in just 3 years Oklahoma’s minimum wage will more than double to $15 per hour. However, it does not stop there as each year FOR EVER it will continue to increase as tied to a cost of living index in cities such as New York City, Chicago, San Francisco and Seattle as measured by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners.
That could cause wages to rise to $30 per hour or more over those next 10 years. Should that happen many small businesses will cease to exist and most entry level jobs will dry up. Those entry level workers this increase is supposed to help, will not be helped (assuming they still have a job) when the cost of living skyrockets and we see the prices of everything we purchase dramatically increase. Passage of 832 will be devastating to people who live on a fixed income.
Currently students, part time workers, farm workers and domestic help are exempted from our minimum wage laws. However, should 832 pass those positions will lose their exemption and thus most will lose their jobs. Passage of 832 exempts federal and state government jobs, but it does not exempt county or city government jobs. That will probably cause a combination of tax increases at those two levels of government and or a reduction of services.
Who is behind this evil State Question? The Democratic Socialists of America and their local Oklahoma chapter. The national organization maintains a web site devoted to 832 where they urge people to join their “WAGE UP OKLAHOMA” campaign. It is being financed by billionaires that hate America and everything good we stand for.
Much of this information is provided by the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA). I have 2 partners that recently started the ABCs of Politics and Culture podcast which can be watched on FaceBook, YouTube, X and Rumble. Approximately 8 weeks ago you can access our interview on this issue with Dave Bond of OCPA.
Charlie Meadows