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Condotta addresses
competitive minimum wage with trio of bills
Rep. Cary Condotta,
R-Wenatchee, introduced three bills today to keep Washington’s
minimum-wage rate to a reasonable level and prevent employers from
having to cut jobs.
“It’s important to have a
minimum wage,” said Condotta. “But if the wage rate grows to a level
employers can’t afford to pay, they’ll cut jobs. And that hurts people
looking for entry-level or other minimum-wage positions, especially at a
time when unemployment is so high. We need to find a balance between the
two.”
At $7.35 per hour,
Washington has the highest minimum wage in the nation. The national rate
is $5.15. Condotta’s bills would bring Washington’s minimum wage more in
line with the rest of the nation, as well as balance out what employers
across the state can pay without having to cut jobs. None of the bills
would reduce the current minimum wage, and therefore would not cut
anyone's pay.
House Bill 1788 would change calculation of the minimum wage from using
the consumer price index (CPI), which focuses on expenditures of
families in urban areas, to the implicit price deflator (IPD). The IPD
is more representative of fluctuations experienced by all
Washingtonians, not just those who work and live in urban areas.
House Bill 1789 would
freeze any minimum wage increase until Washington’s unemployment rate
falls below national levels. Washington’s current unemployment rate is
5.8 percent. The national rate is 5.4 percent.
House Bill 1790 would keep Washington’s minimum wage to within 125
percent of the national average minimum wage. Although Washington’s
current minimum wage is 133 percent of the national average, the bill
would cut the current rate, it would simply put wage increases on hold.
“The minimum wage in our
state has increased so dramatically relevant to other states that
employers have had to cut jobs just to make payroll,” said Condotta.
“Washington employers are feeling the strain and new businesses are
looking elsewhere. This is definitely having a negative effect on job
creation in Washington. One of House Republicans’ primary goals is to
create a climate where employers can generate new jobs. These bills will
help get us there.”
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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