Minnesota House passes minimum wage cut for tipped workers — including 8,000 women over 30

What I do not understand: how can a state, legislate a ban on what municipalities can determine as a liveable wage?  One would think that such a ban would be in violation of the Fourteenth Amendment.

As one comment so aptly states, "It might be wise if republican law makers avoided kicking poor people that can spit in their food."  To which another added, "And vote...."

The Minnesota state House this week passed a bill that would cut the minimum wage for thousands of restaurant workers who receive tips.

The Star Tribune reported that the measure passed by GOP-controlled state House on Wednesday was packed with rollbacks to appease the hospitality industry.

If the bill is signed into law, it would create a two-tiered minimum wage that critics referred to as a “tip penalty.” Restaurant owners would be able to pay employees a lower wage if they made at least $4 an hour in tips.

Republican lawmakers said that they wanted to pass the law before the minimum wage rose to $9.50 an hour in 2016, arguing that it would force restaurants out of business.
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“The message from this bill is that you’re making too much money,” he explained. “It wants to keep people making $12 per hour rather than making $14 or $15 an hour. If you tried living on $30,000 per year in this state, you’d understand that a couple of thousand dollars per year makes a huge difference.”

Another provision in the bill, would ban local municipalities and airports from raising the minimum wage above the state minimum wage.

Minnesota House passes minimum wage cut for tipped workers — including 8,000 women over 30

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