sacramento california governor jerry brown announce deal legislative labor leaders monday raise minimum wage 15 hour 2023 say nation most-populous state would lead way toward high pay work poor proposal still must gain support business-friendly moderate democrats would make california first raise statewide minimum wage 15 hour high nation give governor right opt economy falter hop happen california stay california export rest country brown say news conference sacramento raise minimum wage crop many democratic party candidates agendas ahead november elections issue could help mobilize democratic voters poll accord governor office 2.2 million californians currently earn state minimum wage 10 hour idea raise minimum wage federal level remain 7.25 hour six years oppose republicans business group say would harm small businesses strain government budget pass brown plan would commit state home one world big economies raise minimum wage 15 hour 2022 large businesses 2023 small firm would also head pair compete ballot initiatives champion labor leaders raise minimum wage 15 hour without allow governor halt increase bad time deal-breaker brown passage proposal guarantee without support moderate members democrat-controlled legislature absent press conference anthony rendon speaker state assembly bill expect face opposition deal place desk weekend say rendon support measure say involve negotiations know many folks support bill many it democratic presidential hopeful u.s. senator bernie sanders call raise federal minimum wage 15 hour 2020. economic consultant christopher thornberg found partner beacon economics say increase minimum wage would reduce poverty low pay workers risk lose job employers cut position people businesses say go pay 15 buck hour go hire thornberg say fourteen state several cities begin 2016 minimum wage increase typically phase raise ultimately take 10 15 hour california deal could make state first 15 minimum wage