YEO Policy Books 2014 Policy Book | Page 6

Minimum Wage - $10.10 Issue: Defending Workers & Families Target Level of Office: State Policy Origin: Wisconsin State Legislature Poilcy/Bill Number: Senate Bill 505 Link: www.YEONetwork.org/2013policy/?i=186 YEO Co-Sponsors: Sen. Chris Larson (Primary Co-Author), Reps. Eric Genrich, Mandela Barnes, Dan Reimer, Katrina Shankland, and Mandy Wright Summary Narrative of the Policy: Taking into consideration various types of employee exemptions that the state Department of Workforce Development (DWD) provides, this bill sets new minimum wages for employees generally and for tipped employees. It raises the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 in phases for the next three years after enactment. Following that three year period, DWD will be required to issue new rules revising minimum wages established under SB 505 using a formula indexed to inflation. For tipped employees, SB 505 will require DWD to increase the minimum wage by $0.95 each year until the minimum wage for tipped employees equals 70 percent of the minimum wage for employees generally. Relevant Talking Points & Important Information: • According to our partners at the Pew Research Center, 73 percent of Americans support raising the minimum wage. • Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 is both fair and reasonable. Wages should reflect and reward the productivity and hard work of Americans, not propel them into welfare. In fact, the cities and states that have raised the minimum wage have actually seen an increase in their economy and an increase in jobs created, not lost, as well as a decrease in the reliance on social welfare programs. • America is supposed to be a land of opportunity, where hard work is rewarded. But today’s minimum wage is not enough for a family to make ends meet. Raising the minimum wage provides hard-working Americans with income to spend on the basics they need – food, shelter, clothing, and basic utilities. These necessities in turn generate business for our economy and ease the burden on taxpayer-funded social services. It’s a win-win. • Raising the minimum wage helps build an economy that works for everyone because it increases the workers’ consumer power, which in turn finds itself invested right back into the community. 6 State Level Policy 2014 Book