Respond to the following: By 2007, 145 cities and counties across the nation had enacted “living-wage bills,” generally requiring those businesses that receive government contracts to pay wages higher than the legal minimum wage. Maryland’s living wage law requires employers with state contracts to pay workers at least $8.50/hour---higher in some parts of the state, and higher than the state minimum wage ($6.15 an hour, one dollar higher than the federal floor). Nonprofit groups and small businesses (i.e., those with 10 or fewer workers) with state contracts worth less than $50,000 are exempt.

Identify and explain who will benefit the most from such laws.

Identify and explain who might be harmed by them.

Create and discuss arguments for and against living wage laws.