When politicians talk about a “living wage,” what exactly do they mean? Who decides what qualifies as “livable”? Is it a number pulled out of thin air, or is it based on hard economic reality? These are the questions Georgia lawmakers should be asking—but instead, they’re rushing ahead with a massive wage hike that could crush small businesses and drive prices even higher.
Enter Cobb’s newly elected Democrat Socialist Gabriel Sanchez (HD-42), the sponsor of House Bill 343, also known as the Georgia Living Wage Act. His proposal? A stunning $20 per hour minimum wage, nearly four times the current state minimum. And if that wasn’t enough, the bill also includes automatic yearly increases tied to inflation, meaning wages would continue to rise indefinitely, no matter the consequences.
Socialists like Sanchez claim that a higher minimum wage will lift people out of poverty. But does it really work that way? Or does it just make everything more expensive, pushing struggling families further behind?
Here is the official First Reader Summary filed on Monday February 10, 2025
The Hidden Costs of a “Living Wage”
The concept of a “livable wage” is entirely subjective. What’s “livable” for a single college student in Marietta isn’t the same as what’s needed for a family in rural Georgia. Does the government have the right to dictate this number for everyone? And at what point does a wage stop being “livable” and start being crippling to businesses?
Georgia is home to thousands of small businesses—restaurants, retail, family-run services, and local farms. If this bill becomes law, many of them won’t be able to afford the payroll hike. The predictable result? Layoffs, reduced hours, and businesses shutting down altogether. How exactly does that help workers?
Democrats will tell you this bill is about “helping the poor.” But if forcing businesses to pay artificially high wages leads to fewer jobs, higher costs, and less opportunity, who benefits?
Key Problems With HB 343
Here’s what our local liberal media won’t tell you about this bill:
Job Losses and Business Closures
Most small businesses cannot afford to pay $20 an hour for entry-level positions. If forced to do so, they’ll have no choice but to lay off workers, cut hours, or raise prices. Who does that hurt the most? The very people this bill claims to help.
The Inflation Spiral
Democrats don’t seem to understand basic economics. When wages artificially increase, businesses pass the costs onto consumers. That means your grocery bill, rent, and gas prices will go up even more. A “living wage” means nothing if it just inflates the cost of living.
Attack on Entry-Level Workers
By eliminating exemptions for tipped employees, students, and small businesses, this bill will make it harder for young people to find work. If you’re a high school student looking for a part-time job, good luck—your job just got priced out of existence.
More Lawsuits Against Employers
HB 343 invites lawsuits by allowing employees to sue their employers for wage violations or “retaliation.” In other words, trial lawyers get rich while small businesses get bogged down in endless litigation.
Paying Inmates $20 an Hour? Seriously?
Here’s something most people don’t know—this bill requires inmates who perform labor while incarcerated to be paid the new minimum wage or more. That means taxpayers could be on the hook for paying criminals the same wage as law abiding citizens. Does that sound fair to you?
What’s the Endgame?
Socialist Gabriel Sanchez and his Democratic colleagues know exactly what they’re doing. This isn’t about helping workers—it’s about expanding government control over the economy. By dictating wages and punishing businesses, they’re pushing Georgia one step closer to socialism.
The truth is, wages should be determined by the free market, not by out-of-touch politicians with zero real-world business experience. If businesses are allowed to grow naturally, wages will rise on their own—without the devastating job losses and inflation that come with government interference.
So ask yourself:
- If a “livable wage” is truly about fairness, why are small business owners and workers being hurt the most?
- If this policy is so great, why do states with the highest minimum wages have some of the worst unemployment rates?
- And most importantly—do you trust Georgia Democrats to control your paycheck?
We already know how this story ends. Higher costs, fewer jobs, and more government intrusion.
The question is—are the citizens and small business owners of Cobb willing to let it happen?
Maybe so, they elected a socialist to the Georgia House of Representatives…
Currently, HB 343 is listed with a status of “House Hopper” meaning it’s literally sitting in a box, we’ll keep you you updated on its status as well as other legislation filed by our Representatives.
Note: HB 343 is co-sponsored by democrats Dewey McClain HD109, Derrick Jackson HD68, Bryce Berry HD 56, Shelia Jones HD60 and Kimberly Alexander HD66.
