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Again? Fresh push on for Georgia $15-an-hour minimum wage

By Matt Kempner
Nov 19, 2015

Georgia legislators of the Democratic persuasion say they will again push to raise the state's minimum wage to as much as $15-an-hour.

Such efforts haven’t gone well in the past in the Republican-controlled General Assembly, which cranks up again in January.

But State Senator Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta), who pushed a minimum wage bill last session and spoke at a recent “Fight for $15” rally outside Atlanta City Hall, said he will submit legislation again in the coming months.

Georgia is somewhat unusual in that the state's minimum wage — $5.15 an hour — is actually lower than the $7.25-an-hour federal one, which takes precedence in most situations.

But the prime target for Georgia advocates of $15-an-hour may not be the state's lawmakers. Find out what that means for consumers and workers, in the latest Unofficial Business column on myAJC.com.

About the Author

Matt Kempner is an award-winning journalist who seeks out intriguing twists about people and subjects beyond what the AJC might typically cover. A former columnist and editor, his past assignments have included business investigations, energy, the economy, entrepreneurs, big business, consumer spending, politics, government and the environment.

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