"California Governor's Donor Secures Exemption from $20 Minimum Wage Law: Report"

A major donor to California Governor Gavin Newsom, billionaire Greg Flynn, is set to benefit from an exemption to the state's new $20 minimum wage regulations for the fast food industry, allowing some of his Panera Bread franchise locations to continue paying lower wages. Flynn, who has contributed to Newsom's political campaigns, could save hundreds of thousands of dollars a year per location. The exemption was pushed by Newsom and allows restaurants baking and selling bread as a standalone item to pay the current rate of $16 to its employees. Flynn has been a prolific donor to Newsom and other powerful Democrats in California. Newsom's spokesperson stated that the legislation was the result of negotiations with various stakeholders and that no single person or company held sway over the final outcome.