LOS ANGELES—Gov. Jerry Brown signed a bill into law Monday giving California the nation’s highest statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour by 2022.
That and a similar effort in New York mark the most ambitious moves yet to close the national divide between rich and poor. Experts say other states may follow, given Congress’ reluctance to act despite entreaties from President Barack Obama.
“This is about economic justice. It’s about people. It’s about creating a little, tiny amount of balance in a system that every day becomes more unbalanced,” Brown said before signing the bill at the Ronald Reagan State Building in downtown Los Angeles.
California Governor Jerry Brown is hugged by a union member after signing landmark legislation SB 3 into law on April 4, 2016 in Los Angeles. David McNew/Getty Images
