News & Commentary

May 26, 2014

According to the New York Times, the IRS recently ruled that employers may not give their workers tax-free stipends to buy health insurance in the individual marketplace. Instead, large employers must provide insurance coverage for their employees, or pay a penalty. The ruling prevents large employers from shifting the cost of providing health insurance to the government.

The Washington Post reports that a coalition of unions and activist groups is pushing to raise D.C.’s minimum wage to $12.50 an hour by 2017. The proposal would greatly benefit restaurant employees who earn tips. Under current law, these workers are only entitled to a small portion of the minimum hourly wage.

According to the New York Times, New York City’s teachers are debating whether to ratify an agreement that Mayor de Blasio forged with the teachers’ union. The fate of the agreement will be determined by a secret ballot election. The union expects to count the ballots on June 3.

Finally, the New York Times Editorial Board is “deeply disturb[ed]” by the results of a recent United Nations survey. The survey suggests that forced labor generates $150 billion in business revenues each year.  Illegal operations in economically developed countries account for nearly one third of these revenues.

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