Today at the Montana Legislature, Democratic Senator Jonathan Windy Boy introduced a bill to raise the state minimum wage from $8.05 to $10.10 an hour.
Department of Labor and Industry Commissioner Pam Bucy says the bill is necessary.
“Montana’s average annual wage of $37,575 ranks 47 out of the 50 states.”
Sheena Rice of the Montana Organizing Project says the bill would help those who need it most.
“The low wages in Montana disproportionately hurt our Native American families and female workers.”
There was strong opposition based on a fear that small, local businesses and unskilled laborers would suffer. Glenn Oppel of the Montana Chamber of Commerce warned of unintended consequences.
“They will lay off workers, they may decide not to hire any additional workers, and in some extreme cases, businesses may simply go out of business.”
This bill faces a fight to even get out of committee.