When the calendar turned from 2021 to 2022, states across the nation implemented a variety of new laws with significant impacts on taxpayers. Harmful laws that took effect include increases to the minimum wage and plastic bag taxes. Taxpayer-friendly changes include tax reform and the permanent authorization of cocktails-to-go.
Beginning with New York on December 31, 2021, 21 states raised the hourly minimum wage. The increases ranged from 50 cents in South Dakota to $1.50 in Virginia. The minimum wage increases in California, Delaware, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island are part of scheduled future increases intended to reach a $15 minimum wage, which will be harmful to low-income workers and small businesses. According to a study of Seattle’s efforts to gradually increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour in 2015, employers reduced their payrolls, delayed new hirings, reduced hours, and released employees because they “have not been able to afford the increased minimums.” On average, the study concluded, low-wage workers lost $125 per month due to the increase. Rather than empowering workers, these efforts reduced opportunities and cut jobs. Seattle’s experience apparently was not a lesson learned for the eight states aiming to gradually reach a $15 an hour minimum wage.
Another ineffective and harmful policy that took effect on January 1, 2022 is forcing residents of Virginia to pay a 5-cent tax on each plastic bag provided to them...
; ; ; agreed to pay $17.07 million to settle federal allegations of illegal diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) hiring practices on Friday, marking the Justice Department's first resolution unde...