House Republicans move to roll back the minimum wage hike and restore the tipped credit

Michigan restaurant servers and small business owners would see a different paycheck math under a Republican-led measure that cleared the state House on January 22.

The bill (HB 4001), sponsored by Rep. Roth, rewrites the schedule lawmakers and the Michigan Supreme Court set last year for raising the minimum wage and phasing out the lower tipped wage. Backers cast the change as relief for restaurants worried about layoffs. Opponents say it cuts a long-promised raise for the lowest-paid workers in the state.

The House passed it 63 to 41 on Roll Call No. 4, with six members not voting, and gave it immediate effect. The companion measure HB 4002 on earned sick time moved the same day. Both were sent to the Senate.

The Senate's Democratic majority referred HB 4001 to the Committee on Regulatory Affairs on February 3 and has not advanced it. Without Senate action the bill does not become law.