Politics How Will Cantwell Vote?
The Senate may be considering a bill this week to raise the minimum wage from from $5.15 to $7.25. (Washington state’s is already at $7.63.)
The GOP is sponsoring the bill. That may sound weird, but the bill is actually a trade off from the GOP to get rid of the estate tax.
Liberal groups that traditionally clamor to raise the minimum wage, like labor unions, are balking at the bill because they argue that getting rid of the estate tax is a sop to the rich that will gut social programs.
The bill is a tricky one for Senator Cantwell. Not only is she being tempted with a vote to raise the minimum wage, but the bill would also allow Washington residents to permanently deduct the state sales tax from federal tax returns. (This has been one of Cantwell’s big goals, and she’s passed legislation to extend the deduction…but never has she gotten it to be permanent.)
In another bone to Cantwell (she’s said to be a key swing vote on the estate tax) the bill also includes tax breaks for the timber industry & tax breaks for R&D at Microsoft.
However, on the negative side, the bill would also include a “tip credit” (or tip deduction) that would allow restaurants to include tips in wait staff wages as counting toward the minimum wage payment. That provision is anathema to labor.
The bill passed the House last weekend. Our delegation split along party lines with our three Republicans voting for it … and 6 Ds against.
She just announced she's against it.