Minimum Wage

I recieved the following information regarding what happened in the General Laws Committee this morning:

Republicans on the House General Laws Committee today voted to strip some of the main provisions from a new state minimum wage law Missouri voters overwhelmingly approved in November. Proposition B, which passed with a remarkable 76-percent voter support, increased the state’s standard minimum wage to $6.50 an hour from $5.15 an hour. It also established annual adjustments in the minimum wage based on changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Because of a potential flaw in Proposition B’s wording relating to overtime compensation for police and firefighters, the Senate in February passed SB 255 to address the issue. Proposition B supporters endorsed the proposed fix.

When the House General Laws Committee considered the measure this morning, state Rep. Steve Tilley, R-Perryville, offered a substitute bill that deletes the voter-approved annual cost of living adjustments and also rescinds the minimum wage increase granted to tipped employees. Proposition B increased the minimum wage for tipped employees to $3.25 hour from $2.13 an hour.

The revised bill gutting Proposition B passed on a 5-3 party-line vote. Voting in favor of the measure were Republicans Shannon Cooper of Clinton, Steve Hunter of Joplin, Mike Parson of Boliver, Dwight Scharnhorst of Ballwin and Tilley. Opposed were Democrats Beth Low of Kansas City, Brad Robinson of Bonne Terre and Frame.

Prior to voter approval of Proposition B, Missouri’s minimum wage hadn’t increased since 1997.

Here's the link to the bill: http://www.senate.mo.gov/07info/BTS_Web/Bill.aspx?SessionType=R&BillID=4047