Treasure Coast Newspapers Editorial Board

One thing you can say about powerhouse Florida attorney John Morgan: He puts his money where his mouth is.

Morgan, who backs raising Florida's minimum wage, has contributed more than $4.1 million via his law firm to "Floridians for a Fair Wage," the group that's trying to get a constitutional amendment on the November 2020 ballot. If passed, the measure would gradually raise the state's minimum wage — now $8.46 per hour — to $15 per hour by 2026.

The group has more than 510,000 petition signatures — it needs at least 766,200 — and the state Supreme Court must approve the proposed ballot wording for the measure to make it to the ballot.

The $15 minimum wage is a national issue, and a complex one. Where it’s been implemented, it's been a boon to some low-income workers, but it’s also forced some businesses to implement cuts, meaning other workers lose hours or even their jobs. A $15 minimum wage here could have a big impact, and it’s appropriate for Floridians themselves to weigh in on the issue.

Morgan’s largesse may make it happen.