Democrats in Congress are pushing for an increase the federal minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2020. Washington State’s very own Sen. Patty Murray is expected to introduce the new proposal, called the “Raise the Wage Act,” today. Along with raising the federal minimum wage for nearly 38 million workers, the legislation would also “eliminate an exemption for restaurants and other companies that allows them to pay tipped workers less than the minimum wage.”
The Washington Policy Center (WPC) reacted to the news of Washington State, once again, taking a leadership role in introducing a ridiculous minimum wage increase by posting a tongue-in-cheek comment on Twitter jokingly asking “does this mean folks will push for a $20 minimum wage in WA?”
While the thought of a $20 minimum wage seems like a joke to the rational people over at the WPC, it isn’t for Democrat state Rep. Gael Tarleton of Seattle. Tarleton responded to the WPC by tweeting, “$20/hr is $41,600/yr or about $3500/month before taxes. Why shouldn’t people who work be able to earn living?”
If the recent small business closures in Seattle due to the $15 minimum wage are not enough of an answer Tarleton’s question, the WPC provides more answers here.
Notably, Tarleton is the same lawmaker sponsored a bill mandating paid vacation leave. The bill allowed for the rather large exception of union employers. Essentially, it was an attempt to make unionization the more cost-effective option for non-union employers.
