1) These are not teenager summer jobbers, Avg age is 35; most work full time; more than one-fourth are parents; and, on average, they earn half of their families’ total income.
2) This is an old debate since 1968 - $10.10 an hour by 2016 (also adjusted to 2013 dollars) would lift the minimum to just above its real value in 1968.
3) Doesn't hurt employment
It's just a shame it's not spread out over a longer period of time so business can adjust more slowly. Most service business will be effected if their labor costs go up by 30%.