Reality Check: Supporters/Opponents Of Amendment 70
One of the most contentious ballot measures this election would raise the minimum wage in Colorado.
Right now, it's $8.31 an hour, which is higher than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. Under Amendment 70, it would increase gradually to $12 an hour by January 2020.
The Bell Policy Center - which supports the measure - says based on census data, about a third of those who would be impacted by the increase in the first year are parents with kids, who make about $17,000 annually as a full-time minimum wage worker.
The restaurant industry – which opposes the measure – says the average profit margin of a full service restaurant is 4 percent and many in rural areas restaurants and farms would have to cut jobs.
CBS4 Political Specialist Shaun Boyd gave claims on both sides of the issue a Reality Check.
Shaun Boyd's sources for this Reality Check are as follows:
http://www.wfco.org/minimumwage
http://www.wfco.org/file/2016-minimum-wage-report.pdf
http://commonsensepolicyroundtable.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Minimum-Wage-Final-Report.pdf
http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/44995-MinimumWage.pdf
http://www.oregon.gov/das/OEA/Documents/forecast0916.pdf
https://evans.uw.edu/sites/default/files/MinWageReport-July2016_Final.pdf
http://www.irle.berkeley.edu/workingpapers/157-07.pdf
http://research.upjohn.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1220&context=empl_research
https://www.colorado.gov/pacific/cdle/minimumwage
http://www.businessforafairminimumwage.org/Colorado-Signatories