Debate on Michigan's Minimum Wage Increase

[JonWylie]

Since the Republican legislature's "adopt and amend" strategy in 2018 has been ruled unconstitutional, we are slated to see a large increase in minimum wage, including that for tipped workers, in early 2023. Obviously, some groups are not happy about this and are looking to Whitmer for help.

There's really no incentive for lame duck politicians to act on this since it will be unpopular with a large group regardless of which side they fall on. I can sympathize with the large change, but this is why it should have gone to a vote instead of the gamesmanship that happened.

Debate on Michigan's minimum wage increase not expected in lame duck [[freep.com)

[401don]

The argument often used by Republicans against raising the minimum wage was not only hurting business but that unemployment would increase due to layoffs by small business. Here in Ontario the minimum wage is currently 15.50 per hour, recently raised by the Conservative party premier. With the shortage of workers, both skilled and unskilled, the old argument doesn't hold water now, if it ever did. No doubt it may hurt some small businesses but the trade-off for workers overall would seem to be well worth it.