Nebraska Teens Beware

In my first blog post about something other than hockey (which I’ll more than likely resume writing about next week), I’d like to bring your attention to a bill recently advanced by Nebraska legislators. Legislative Bill 599 was created to lower the minimum wage for teenage workers. When the minimum wage for the rest of the state increases to $9 an hour on January 1 of next year, the wage for high school students would remain at $8 per hour. The lawmakers defending LB 599 claim it is a revision of the law that raised the minimum wage. Its main purpose is supposedly to help small businesses stay afloat because this would allow them to hire more workers for less cost.

I find it very upsetting that a bill like was created and is actually gaining progress. It essentially says that my work isn’t as valuable as someone else’s work simply because of my age, which is blatant ageism.  What I find most disturbing about LB 599 is what it would do to teens who are in a worse financial situation than myself. Some high school age kids need their wage to support themselves and their family. Many students use their income to save for college, and if LB 599 becomes law, it would make it far more difficult  for these students to afford higher education.

-AP

Article: http://www.omaha.com/news/legislature/lawmakers-advance-exemption-for-high-schoolers-to-new-minimum-wage/article_6932289f-64cc-5e8e-8c69-6bd17420671d.html