WASHINGTON STATE

Washington State House Democrats

HOUSE DEMOCRATS

Rep. Jessyn Farrell’s statement on the Seattle City Council’s vote to raise the city’s minimum wage

Rep. Jessyn Farrell D-46 Aaron Barna
Rep. Jessyn Farrell D-46

Rep. Jessyn Farrell’s statement on the Seattle City Council’s vote to raise the city’s minimum wage

 I wish to congratulate the Seattle City Council for today’s bold vote on a minimum wage increase for those who work in the city.

We know our economy is stronger when an honest day’s work is rewarded with a fair wage. During the recovery, top earners have done quite well, the stock market has seen record highs, and corporate profits have never been better, but the recovery has not yet reached our working class and the gap between the rich and the poor continues to grow.

With more money in their pockets, lower income working families in Seattle will have the resources they need to pay the rent, clothe their children, and feed their family. This will be a boost to the city’s economy.

Unfortunately, Seattle’s action today will not help the thousands of minimum and low wage workers outside the city limits. My measure, HB 2672, would have raised Washington’s minimum wage to $12 per hour over the next three years. It is urgent that we act in 2015 to ensure that every worker in our state is paid a fair wage for their hard work.

I look forward to re-introducing this vital legislation during the next session and seeing it through to final passage.