Speakout

The Baltimore Sun

THE ISSUE: -- The Howard County Council is being asked to pass a living-wage bill, which would require most contractors with five or more workers who do at least $100,000 a year in county work to pay at least $12.41 an hour, which is 125 percent of the federal poverty guideline. That is higher than the $11.30-an-hour standard set for the Central Maryland region in a similar law on state government contracts. Advocates say the county's high cost of living justifies the legislation, while opponents say it could drive up government costs. Should the council approve a living-wage bill?

Wage boost would cut government costs

It is correct that the county's high cost of living justifies Howard County Council Chairman Calvin Ball's living-wage bill. Moreover, such an increase would reduce, not drive up government costs. For, as one former member of the Howard County Council recently stated, "Low-wage workers specifically would be better able to pay their matching portion of their health care out of their paychecks." Otherwise, as is now the case, the government will continue to foot the bill associated with low-wage earners' visitations to emergency rooms, the latter which should be the responsibility of corporations.

Sherman Howell

Columbia

The writer is vice president of research and agenda planning, African American Coalition of Howard County.

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