The House of Representatives will consider the minimum wage bill, as well as other middle-class prosperity bills today starting at 2 p.m. instead of 4 p.m. as previously announced.
The House Rules room will be open to members of the media and stakeholders at 2 p.m.
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The House of Representatives will debate House Bill 1355 as well as other middle-class prosperity bills on the Floor this afternoon.
HB 1355, sponsored by Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle) and backed by 40 other lawmakers, would increase the minimum wage, currently of $9.47 per hour, to $12 over the course of four years, starting in 2016.
Supporters of the measure say that while raising the minimum wage won’t end poverty in the state, it will benefit more than half a million workers and will bring greater equity into the labor market.
For a person working full-time earning $10 an hour, an increase to $12 would mean an extra $347 per month to spend on rent, food or utilities.
The House Rules room will be open to members of the media and stakeholders at 2 p.m. where they will be able to ask questions and get comments from legislators and workers before or after the vote.
The other middle-class prosperity bills that may be voted on this afternoon are Paid Sick and Safe Leave (HB 1356) and Worker Anti-Retaliation (HB 1354)