- In keeping with a promise made last week by Gov. Jay Inslee in his State of the State Address, House Democrats on Thursday unveiled a bill that would raise Washington’s minimum wage — even though the odds of getting it through the Republican-dominated Senate are slim to none.
“Economic inequality today is at its starkest,” said first-term Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle), the measure’s prime sponsor. “Not since 1929 have we seen such extremes between what our top earners earn and what our lowest wage-earners earn.
“A day’s work should earn a living wage,” she said. “If you earn minimum wage in Washington state, you are still at the poverty level. And the goal should be for people to pay for rent, pay for childcare and food without government assistance.”
Farrell said the bill, HB-2672, has 30 co-sponsors — all Democrats. Asked if it had enough support to garner the 50 votes needed for approval in the House, she observed, “With 30 sign-ons, there’s clearly enough upswell in the Democratic Caucus to get this passed.”
Washington’ minimum wage — currently the highest in the nation — rose to $9.32 an hour on Jan. 1. Under the terms of the bill, it would jump to $10 in 2015, $11 in 2016 and $12 in 2017.
The bill will be heard next week in the House Labor and Workforce Development Committee, whose chair, Rep. Mike Sells (D-Everett), was one of a handful of lawmakers who joined Farrell at Thursday’s press conference in Olympia.
She also invited several individuals who work for minimum wage, as well as a small business owner who brushed aside arguments that raising the minimum wage would force companies to hire fewer employees and/or raise prices.
“Good wages make solid communities,” said Don Orange, chairman of the Washington Business Alliance. “The people who come to us to get their cars fixed or buy tires are paying for it with wages, and it goes right back into the economy. It’s simple economics: If we want to have the healthiest state in the country, let’s get the best wages.”
Farrell said the overwhelming majority of those working for minimum wage in Washington were over 20 years old, with half of those being women — 30 percent of whom were parents.
According to a Pew Research Center study, however, only about 1.5 percent of all Washington employees work for minimum wage — one of the lowest rates in the nation. And while 85 percent of minimum wage earners are older than 20, only 50 percent are older than 24.
Moreover, according to The Heritage Foundation, 79 percent of minimum wage earners nationwide worked less than full-time, and 65 percent were also attending school. Even more importantly, the average family income for minimum wage earners in 2012 was $65,900.
“People on both sides of the issue will cite studies that support their point of view,” Farrell said. “But we have the benefit of some real-world numbers that show this law is needed.
“The great thing about focusing in the minimum wage is we’re focusing on work,” she added. “That’s an idea Republicans can rally around, that if you make a living wage you can be a successful contributor to your community.”
Farrell said her bill would not affect communities like SeaTac and Seattle, which are considering regulations to raise minimum wages there even higher — to around $15.
“Our bill simply establishes a floor,” Farrell said. “Other communities can do something else.”
