A Senate bill to raise the state minimum wage to $15 an hour beginning in 2022 advances from Senate Labor 3 to 2. Bill author, New Orleans Senator Troy Carter said the top five occupations with the greatest number of workers earning less than $8.25 an hour are cashiers, waiters, food prep workers, home healthcare aides, and fast-food workers. Carter said these are all front-line workers. “Next to police, fire, and healthcare, they were there. When we were forced to be home, many of them were still working and they were working at minimum wage. We wanted to stay home and be safe they couldn’t,” said Carter.