California Governor Gavin Newsom's administration has refuted claims that he advocated for an exception to the state's new fast-food minimum wage law to benefit a wealthy campaign donor. The current minimum wage in California stands at $16 per hour, but effective April 1, most fast-food establishments in the state are required to pay their employees a minimum of $20 per hour under legislation signed by Newsom last year. Notably, this law does not apply to restaurants with on-site bakeries that sell bread as a standalone menu item.
The exception in the law, which puzzled some observers, was reportedly linked to opposition from Panera Bread franchisee Greg Flynn, who owns 24 restaurants in California and has been a significant donor to Newsom's political campaigns. However, both Flynn and Newsom's spokesperson have denied any direct communication regarding this matter.
