A Vancouver business owner’s testimony urging lawmakers to raise the state’s minimum wage to $12 an hour drew rare applause during a long hearing Monday.
“It’s time you guys stepped up and did your job for the people of Washington,” Don Orange, of Hoesly Eco Automotive, told a Senate panel in Olympia. “It’s overdue.”
Lawmakers listened to testimony from people from all over the state on a measure that would raise the minimum wage to $12 an hour over a four-year period. The state’s current minimum wage is $9.47.
The House already passed the measure, House Bill 1355, but it’s likely to face a tougher audience in the Senate, where Republicans are in control.
The arguments followed now familiar lines, with proponents saying it would help those living paycheck-to-paycheck while also boosting the economy.
The basic principle, Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle and a sponsor of the bill, told the panel is, “if you work full time, you work hard, you should be able to pay your own way.”
Opponents argued it would lead to layoffs and higher prices for goods and services.
Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg, said he doesn’t buy the argument it would help small businesses.
“We have small business owners who have run their business on their own without help from us. … Turns out now we need to tell them what’s good for them?” he said. “If it’s good for small business, they will do it without our help.”
Kelly Love, president of the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber polled the 1,200 local businesses it represents to receive their feedback on the minimum wage debate.
Out of the 1,200 emails she sent, 12 businesses responded.
“And I have a few ideas why,” she said. “There are so many pressing issues businesses are facing in terms of taxes and regulations that this didn’t come up as a high enough priority for them to weigh in on.”
Those that did respond, she said, were not fans of the idea. She added that the chamber hasn’t taken an official position on the issue.
“I think it’s best left to the cities. I believe this is one of the issues where we want to be able to listen to our citizens and residents and that at the local level, we have the authority and ability to do so,” Parker said.
Rep. Liz Pike, R-Camas, who has emerged as a vocal opponent of raising the minimum wage, said she is worried low-skilled workers and teenagers will see a decline in job opportunities.
“Big corporations can absorb the cost easier than our small employers,” Pike wrote in an email. “I’ve heard from business owners in my district who tell me they will reduce staffing, postpone hiring, cut benefits and look to automation or raise their prices to cover increased labor costs.”
In the same hearing, the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee also considered measures that would mandate more paid sick leave and combat discrimination in the workplace based on gender.
Lauren Dake: 360-735-4534; twitter.com/LaurenDake; lauren.dake@columbian.com
