The Washington House is expected to vote this week on a $12 per hour minimum wage.
Speaker of the House Frank Chopp telegraphed that upcoming vote in a recent meeting with Capitol reporters.
Just a year ago, Speaker Chopp, a Democrat, said that while he supports a higher minimum wage, the issue wasn’t ready for a vote on the House floor. At the time he it was important to ‘start the conversation’ and ‘figure out where there’s consensus.’
Fast-forward one year and it appears Chopp feels the issue is now ready for a vote. The proposal in the House would move Washington’s minimum wage from the current $9.47 per hour to $12 per hour by 2019.
But even if the House approves this measure, it may quickly die in the Republican-led Washington Senate. Proposals in the Senate to raise the minimum wage didn’t even get a hearing. And many Republicans have said a higher minimum wage would be a jobs killer.”
Republicans have offered counter proposals to a minimum wage hike, including one to create a teen training wage.
Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network