South Dakota’s Board of Economic Development has raised the state’s minimum wage to $15 an hour… for businesses seeking 2% loans from the Revolving Economic Development and Initiative (REDI) Fund:
South Dakota businesses that receive low-interest loans from state government in the future will need to pay employees more competitive wages.
The state Board of Economic Development revised its policies Friday. The new standard is a $15 minimum wage. It had been $10.50 since 2012.
The board set a starting target of at least $20 per hour for most jobs and a $25 minimum for preferred jobs such as at engineering and technology firms [Bob Mercer, “S.D. Raises Wage Standards for Business Loans,” KELO-TV, 2021.10.22].
No, Bernie Sanders didn’t sneak into the meeting and steal the gavel from chairman Jeffory Erickson. That Watertown Republican über-banker agrees with Democratic Senator and non-voting Board of Economic Development member Reynold Nesiba that expecting businesses to pay at least $15 an hour is “a step [!} in the right direction.”
Perhaps Chairman Erickson should push to extend this minimum wage to all of South Dakota’s corporate handouts: if you’re not paying South Dakotans at least $15 an hour, you’re not producing enough economic benefit to justify taxpayer support.
Well you know old Johnnie Thune likes to reminisce about his six dollar an hour job as a cook in 1978. WHOOPS, that would be almost $23 an hour now John. Republicans and bootstraps, you really have to wonder don’t you? If you can’t afford to run a business and pay living wages then close. Why continue slavery?
Imagine if Senator Thune’s career revolved around and depended on coming up with new and innovative ideas to improve South Dakota.
It brings joy to grudznick’s ol’ belly when Mr. H agrees with something Governor Noem’s appendages do. Joy, I tell you!