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Washington Restaurant Association Declares Support For Higher Minimum Wage

An aerial view of the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia
WSDOT
/
Flickr
An aerial view of the Washington State Capitol Campus in Olympia

There’s a surprise newcomer to the campaign for a higher minimum wage in Washington. It’s the state’s restaurant association.

Earlier this year, Washington House Democrats proposed a phased-in boost in the state minimum wage from the current $9.47 to $12 per hour. Among those testifying against the doomed proposal was the Washington Restaurant Association.

But the lobbying organization now says it supports a statewide minimum wage hike if it’s done in what they call “the right way.” The Association didn’t offer any details on what kind of proposal it might support. But it did recently back the successful campaign for a phased-in $12 per hour minimum wage in Tacoma.

In fact, the city-by-city approach is part of what’s motivating the restaurant association. It’s president said a statewide solution is needed, not a “checkerboard of wage laws.”

A spokesman for Governor Jay Inslee said the Democrat plans to push for a higher minimum wage again next legislative session.

Copyright 2015 Northwest News Network

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy as well as the Washington State legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia." Prior to joining the Northwest News Network, Austin worked as a television reporter in Seattle, Portland and Boise. Austin is a graduate of Garfield High School in Seattle and Connecticut College in New London, Connecticut. Austin’s reporting has been recognized with awards from the Association of Capitol Reporters and Editors, Public Radio News Directors Incorporated and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Austin Jenkins
Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."