California, great weather bad politics
By Bruce Fry, SJFB President
I’m on my soapbox, one last time. Assemblyman Luis Alejo, a democrat from Salinas, introduced AB
10 Minimum Wage: Annual Adjustment. His proposal is to raise the minimum wage by increments to
$9.25 by Jan. 1, 2016. To break it down: 2014: $8.25, 2015: $8.75, 2016: $9.25 and every year after
adjusted by the rate of inflation. That is a 15 percent increase over the next three years.
Assemblyman Alejo, this is not a good idea. This is a “job killer bill” dubbed by the California
Chamber of Commerce. The problem is where does it stop? Why don’t we just raise it to $25 per
hour for every employee? That way it is a fair wage for all.
Entry-level employees receive differentiation of pay for a reason: work ethic, responsibility,
skills… in other words, based on their experience. Employees are not stuck at this pay spot either.
They are just simply starting their career and are climbing the ladder, that is if they have the work
ethic, which now-a-days is sometimes hard to find with all the government programs that are paying
people to stay home rather than looking for a job.
As employees improve their skills and responsibility, so will their pay, when the business can
economically afford it. Recently, in several sectors of agriculture, that has been the case. The
economics have been tough, so a “raise” has not been feasible, but now with the markets changing it
can and has happened.
But we must also remember all the other new costs businesses are taking on too: Obama Care,
reduction of federal tax credit and who knows what else these crazy politicians will come up with. So,
let the labor market and businesses set the cost per hour of the employee, not Luis Alejo. This bill
just passed the Assembly Labor and Employment Committee on a 5-2 vote. Now it’s on to the
Appropriations Committee. It’s time to write letters.
This is a great example of why all of us need to be involved in the political process and vote out
politicians like Luis Alejo and replace them with business-minded legislators. Let’s get these
politicians back to the basics. Vote for a fiscally responsible budget, reduce burdens on business,
reduce taxes and watch the economy begin to grow. Pretty simple concept, but hard for them to
understand.
Lastly, after two years now of being president of the San Joaquin Farm Bureau, I’m still sticking to
my theme, “Tell your story, create relationships and make change happen!” From my experience
from the last six years as an officer of the Farm Bureau, that is how things got done.
For example, telling my family’s nightmare story on estate tax. I was able to help change CFBF
and AFBF policy on estate tax this past year, which I believe will help policy discussions in the
future and hopefully one day exempt agriculture from the devastating tax. Let’s keep the discussion
going and hope for some change. Now, whose story is next?
Finally, I want to say I have enjoyed immensely the opportunity to serve the San Joaquin Farm
Bureau as president these last two years. As my term comes to an end, there are so many great
experiences, people and lessons I have enjoyed on my journey.
My journey has ended as president of the Farm Bureau but I will continue being
passionate about agriculture and keeping the family farm economically viable. May God
bless all the farmers and ranchers of San Joaquin County, California and the United
States of America.