The Democrat-controlled West Virginia House voted last week to raise the state's minimum wage to $8.75 an hour. However, they conspicuously exempted many of their own staff from the increase. Not only that, but the increase also does not apply to seniors, the handicapped and state fire fighters along with several other categories of workers.

This is a tacit admission that raising the minimum wage, while a benefit to those receiving the increase, also results in negative economic consequences which must be addressed by the employer. This usually comes in the form of layoffs, reduced hours or simply not hiring additional employees. The down side of the minimum wage increase is continually ignored or downplayed by liberals who constantly trumpet the idea of the free lunch.

It, of course, not the first time politicians have exempted themselves from laws they self-righteously cram down the throats of the taxpayers. They have carved out several waivers for themselves and their staffs from the Affordable Care Act realizing that many of its provisions will result in harm to people, from which, they want themselves and their cronies to be shielded. Employers do not have this option and must be faced with the choice of either cutting employee hours or raising prices. Economic realities usually lean toward the former choice. The only way to compel lawmakers to think twice about their reckless demands is to require them to never be able to exempt themselves from the laws they impose upon the rest of us. A constitutional amendment would be the surest way to force compliance. The alternative is a public that starts getting angry and letting their representatives know of their displeasure.

Victor Keith writes from Burbank, California and can be contacted at victorakeith.com