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