Newsom Donor's Panera Stores Exempted from Minimum Wage Hike He Lobbied For
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Major Gavin Newsom donor Greg Flynn, a billionaire franchise owner, stands to benefit from a minimum wage exemption he lobbied for that excludes some of his Panera Bread locations.
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The exemption allows bakeries selling bread as a standalone item to continue paying less than the new $20 minimum wage. Flynn's two-dozen Panera locations could save hundreds of thousands per year.
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Flynn has donated over $100,000 to Newsom's political campaigns and anti-recall effort. He's given thousands more to other top California Democrats.
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The original minimum wage law was repealed after talks between labor groups, the fast food industry, and the governor's office. The bread exemption was part of a compromise.
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A Newsom spokesperson said the final regulations were the result of negotiations with many stakeholders, not just one person or company.