Florida amendment would halt min. wage increase for ex-felons
Florida State Senator Jeff Brandes introduced an amendment this past week that would reduce the eventual $15 minimum wage rate for ex-felons and workers under 21. If passed, it would reduce the minimum wage rate for prisoners in the state correctional system, employees convicted of a felony, employees younger than 21, and “hard-to-hire” employees.
If Florida lawmakers approve the amendment, it would be on the ballot for Florida voters to decide in 2022.
Wow talk about some serious discrimination against felons and certain age people. This is just some of the reasons why I hate law makers, and our species.
There aren’t enough words to describe how idiotic this proposal is. So anybody with a prior felony would be consigned to lousy wages and inevitable exploitation? That is certainly going to help with reintegration and reduce the crime rate!! Where do legislators like him and Lauren Book come from? Just one more reason I will never set foot in Florida.
Ed C
Do you know the history of Australia? According to the story, England wanted to purge itself of Felons, criminals, vagabonds, prostitutes, beggars and other undesirables. They shipped them off to an island hoping they would die or kill each other.
Nowadays, they say Aussies find it special to be a pure blood, or one who is descended from those shipped over as felons, from Ye Olde World.
My point is, sometimes I feel we are one vote away from being shipped off to Alcatraz, Antarctica or some other remote place. Out of site, out of mind.
And just HOW are we supposed to become reintegrated and reformed when at every turn we face a wall? I swear they want us all to just give up and go back to prison. I know 2 family friends that did just that and one who committed suicide. AND, the many sickos rejoice when they learn that has happened.
Isn’t it ironic that they use the term”ex-felons” but we are still treated like we are still felons.
“Isn’t it ironic that they use the term”ex-felons” but we are still treated like we are still felons?”
What an amazing statement. You said in a single sentence what I have had trouble putting into words.
Thank you!
WHL
Thank you so much for the pat on the back. Sometimes when we write what we “Feel” and not what we “Think” it has more impact.
We think with a fight mentality “Those bastards” but we feel with passion, “They can’t hold us down”!
Stay blessed and keep fighting
And everyone who rejoices this crap are the same type of people who, when a felony charge/conviction happens to one of their loved ones, they come with the “give him a second chance” pleading sob stories. Felonies happen every day by people with no criminal history.
Society is a joke.
Well if this isn’t some of the biggest BS I have ever heard! So, basically it devalues certain employees because of their past and even their age? People in Florida might pass it because many never read the details of amendments but it will find its way to higher courts without a doubt! Unreal! What is it with Florida always trying to change what we voted for??
Old Karen
I worked at a place for 11 years. I was basically the assistant manager. I had my own keys, took crap for anything anyone did wrong and had to cover for any manager on vacation.
Having said that, no title, no promotions and the few raises I got were like 10 cents an hour raise after 3 years. When I quit without notice while the real manager was on vacation, he ended up getting fired as well. I had an hour long conversation, via teleconference with corporate, of how I was treated the 11 years I was there and they were appalled.
What have we become as a society? Our politicians talk and talk about corrections and rehabilitation, yet they continue to kick a man when he is down. Amendments like this one are driven by anger and hatred, not rehabilitation and compassion.
Are you freaking kidding me?!
Rachel d
None of us are really surprised. They get away with pushing people into the streets with their exclusion zones and 100s of other inhuman punishments that are called civil matters.
Why should any of us be surprised? They will continue to push the limits until the courts finally side with us. Since judges and politicians are elected and know each other, it is going to be hard. When we gain a foot, they take a mile.
If it wasn’t for groups like F.A.C and others who are organizing for our cause, we might not have a chance. We are slowly making progress. But then something like this comes and slaps us in the face.
Cherokee jack-
I know, it’s just…..gah!!!!
I’m somewhat at a loss as to how this would even be legal?
Should this even pass a vote, then again… Florida, I can just imagine the legal fallout as a result. I get that there’s a Federal minimum and the State has no say in that. To limit someone to make less than the average resident within the State is inhumane at best, vindictive at worst…
I’m curious to see what kind of political spin this gets as it contradicts the current Federal direction on reform.
Another question comes to mind, how would this benefit the State? What purpose is there to exclude anyone with a felony conviction from making the average minimum wage? The State isn’t paying these wages… Unless this news “story” forgot to mention that the Bill only covers those (few) that are currently incarcerated and being paid for their work?
After some further thought…
What is considered a “hard to hire” person?
Also read the part about employees outside of corrections employ
This is beyond stupid.
SC, I believe it benefits the state in the form of cheap labor, thereby making the state more business friendly. It’s the pre-civil war mentality of taking advantage of a powerless subclass to enrich the wealth of the powerful.
The rich will always seek to exploit others to their gain, it’s in their DNA.
At least its not solely targeted at registrants. But man. I have seen some real B.S. since this started but this is really just another level of WTF are they thinking? I mean what’s next? Go out and pick your choice of ex felon and take them back to your buisness for free slave labor?
This is just really special.
This has to be continued punishment for people with a past felony — unconstitutional.
I saw a video with Brandes on criminal justice reform. He did great until he was asked about Amendment 4. Then he could hardly look at the interviewer and had some trouble with his words as he described how he supported DeSantis in requiring all fines and fees be paid first. Brandes talks the talk but he remains a puppet for DeSantis.
It is unfortunate that a political leader can no longer make decisions on what is best for his/her constituents, but must follow the dictates of his/her political party.
Why the pay difference? I remember when men and women were paid differently for the same work.
If they do the same work, why not pay them the same?
Pay should be based on the job, not who is doing the job. Otherwise, it becomes personal, not professional.
I cant find a job as a convicted sex offender in this state anyway due in large part to lifetime probation. I had to create my own business or face homelessness. And the probation department has been very resistant to me having my own legitimate business because they have less control. So, even if the minimum wage was 100 dollars per hour, I couldn’t get it anyway.
To F Florida:
My Mom is a pastor and helps people. She use to know a guy who was on probation. He was disabled and could not work. His probation officer violated him for not getting a job. Not sure if it was because he was on probation or the fact he was also a registered sex offender but off to prison he went.
During his court appearance, he was sure the judge would accept the doctors testimony that he could not work. The judge stated, “The fact that you could show up for court means you can find some sort of work” and sent him back to prison.
Now the state and the tax payers are paying for his medical care. (Well what little care the dept of corrections provides anyway)
Of course judges know better than medical experts. That’s why there is a registry in the first place. Judges are not only the arbiters of right and wrong and of justice, but also are the supreme authority in determining what are facts, what is true, or whether a person is competent to stand trial and then later not competent to be a free citizen in a civil commitment hearing. They can cherry pick testimony as they please to bring about the outcome they desire, then sit smug at their “superior intellect” after doing so.
How did our founding fathers make such an error in judgement to create a framework wherein such people can exist?
How can they exist you ask? Because society sits on their ass, and allows it to transpire.
Just wow. I have said this before and I will say it again. Pay should not be allowed to be determined by a public vote. Period. People are voting on economics they don’t understand and on hate in this case. If we allow the public to determine wages then why not who?
Not sure why FAC didn’t reference the actual bill. It is SJR 854:
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2021/854
As usual, the phrasing is as vague as possible as it does not define “hard-to-hire” and does not state how much the “reduction” would be. This will not be a popular amendment. I doubt if the bill will even pass as there is no justification other than punishment.
How ironic the bill’s language starts out “All working Floridians are entitled to be paid a minimum wage that is sufficient to provide a decent and healthy life for them and their families…”
JZ
Some old guy named Thomas Jefferson once wrote some weird document that no one has ever heard of. It is called The Declaration of Indepence and reads in part :
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness”
I seem to be lacking in a few of these areas.
Oddly enough, the law may actually give an advantage to felons. Imagine a crime-filled area where there are many ex-felons. This law may make the few who are not ex-felons difficult to employ as the company can save money by hiring felons. Perhaps non-felons will seek out a special permit as a ‘hard to hire’ person. Over time, more and more people will seek out the ‘hard to hire’ status. This will be a great way for employers to save money as the state of Florida can send a big “screw you” to the federal minimum wage law. After all, 20% of all black men will go to prison. Why should blacks make the same as whites? Florida has decided that people with disabilities (a ‘hard to hire’ status) do not deserve to be paid a federal minimum wage. Minimum wage for healthy white males can be $15 an hour, and $13 for everyone else. Perhaps once an employer learns that you have a spouse with a disability (and health care premiums for company may go up) you can apply for a ‘hard to employ’ status and continue working for less pay! God Bless America!
Even though I have been critical of this bill, you might be correct. In an interview yesterday, Brandes said that he has listed people in this bill for whom it can be difficult to get a job. Not giving them the required $15/hour wage would make them more likely to receive employment from companies that cannot (or will not) pay the increase. Maybe Brandes is on to something.
Anything to kick men and women who are already down! Now we are heading toward wage discrimination at the hands of government?
Is there work any less valuable?
More PUNISMENT !!!!!!!
I spent ten years in Florida and I loved almost every minute of it. Came back to to PA for a woman whom I married shortly after and not much later caught my charge. I’ve been kicking myself for leaving until reading this. To put it extremely politely, forget Florida. The politicians are backward inbred losers.
Florida is such an evil state