Wyoming House Kills Bill to Raise Minimum Wage for Tipped Employees

Sponsors express dismay and disappointment

Cheyenne, WY - Members of the Wyoming House voted today to not introduce a bill that would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees, such as waitresses and bartenders, from $2.13 per hour to $5.00 per hour.  The bill failed on a vote of 23 in favor and 35 against; a bill requires 2/3, or 40 votes, for introduction during a budget session.

The bill was introduced by Rep. George Bagby of Rawlins, who was discouraged the bill did not reach committee.  “This is not a fight we are willing to give up.  There are too many Wyoming residents who are in this situation and too intimidated about losing their job to ask their employer to make up the difference when the tips don’t.” 

 “This is a common sense bill that would do so much good.  It would bring greater economic stability to many more Wyoming workers and would not slow business growth or harm our small businesses,” commented Rep. Stan Blake of Green River.

Rep. Mary Throne of Cheyenne noted that this bill would have helped combat the gender wage gap in Wyoming. "The overwhelming majority of tipped wage workers are women and the failure to act on this issue perpetuates the gender wage gap in Wyoming--the worst in the nation.  We talk about this problem, but when the opportunity arises to help hard-working women--we fail to act,” said Throne. 

Rep. Joe Barbuto of Rock Springs said, “It is a disservice to the people of Wyoming to not even give them the chance to testify on something that would have such an overwhelming impact on so many of their lives.” 

According to the National Employment Law Project (NELP) the minimum wage for tipped workers in Wyoming has been the same since 1996 and has not been adjusted for inflation.  In an August 2009 report NELP estimated that if the wage had kept up with inflation it would be approximately $4.90.  

Rep. Mike Gilmore of Casper pointed out, “These men and women deserve to make a living wage.  Basing an entire salary upon tips, because honestly $2.13 cannot be called a salary, makes a whole sector of our population very susceptible and with this economy I would think we would want everyone to be on the best footing possible.”

Rep. Bagby introduced the legislation and plans to bring it back in the future.  The bill was sponsored by Rep. Barbuto, Rep. Blake, Rep. Davison, Rep. Gilmore, and Rep. Throne.

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