Minimum Wage Indexing and Local Minimum Wage Could Be Back

As we approach the end of the legislative session, it appears that Senate leadership will try to force the Assembly to act on minimum wage legislation, Senate Bill 1 (SB1), by holding up already passed Assembly bills as bargaining chips.

SB 1 would:

• Increase the minimum wage every year based on the CPI (indexing)
• Allow municipalities around the state to set their own minimum wages
• Raise the current Wisconsin minimum wage to $7.60 per hour

Last year, WRA Lobby Day attendees delivered a message loud and clear that raising the minimum wage in this economy and allowing local governments to set their own minimums would be a disaster for small business. The result was that the Wisconsin Assembly leadership listened to you and has not moved SB1. Furthermore, the Assembly removed a similar Senate proposal from the State Budget Bill. 

This is not the time to be silent. Legislators need to hear the message again. Senators need to know that we know what they are up to and how damaging SB1 would be to your business, small businesses around the state and the economy. Speak up about what matters.