Democratic Lawmakers File Legislation Aimed At Closing Wage Gaps

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Democratic senators and representatives announce they're filing three bills to help working families. / Georgia Public Broadcasting

A group of Democratic lawmakers want to raise Georgia's minimum wage and stop employers from using salary history when making hiring decisions.

Legislation introduced this week would raise the state's minimum wage from $5.15 to $15 an hour over the next five years.

Sen. Donzella James (D-Atlanta) said Georgia's current rate forces people to make tough choices.  

"People have to choose (between) will my lights be cut off and I feed my family,” James said. “This is terrible for people who are working to have to make those kinds of decisions."

James said the legislation was modeled after the city of Atlanta’s. The city had a gradual rise to $15 an hour starting in 2017 and hitting the final amount this year.

The group of lawmakers also wants employers to stop paying new employees based on what they used to make saying it could prevent them from achieving financial growth. 

The pieces of legislation are all an attempt to lessen the wage gap between men and women and for people of color.