Colorado lawmaker proposes minimum wage increase
A state lawmaker introduced legislation asking voters to increase the Colorado’s minimum wage from $8.23 an hour to $12.50.
The proposal needs two thirds of the Colorado Legislature to approve sending it to the ballot. Rep. Dominick Moreno of Commerce City says he knows his proposal doesn’t have the votes to pass. But he says he hopes the debate will help jumpstart an effort outside the state Capitol to make it on the 2016 ballot.
Some workers agree that a minimum wage increase is needed.
“$8.23 is too low. There’s no way you can possibly live on that,” Allison Albert said. “At what point in time can you afford health insurance, afford food, utilities and the basic necessities?”
Moreno’s bill would increase the minimum wage by a dollar each year until reaching $12.50 by 2020.
Opponents argue an increase will cause more harm than good.
“It sets a floor, but it also establishes the prices of everything based on it,” Jay Ledbetter said. “When the minimum wage goes up, everything else goes up.”
Republican House Leader Brian DelGrosso says Moreno’s idea would put Colorado businesses at a competitive disadvantage with other states, and that it could increase costs to consumers.
Supporters said the proposed bill is a step in the right direction.
“I think you either have to look into having more entitlements to make sure people can live safely and be fed and housed or increase the minimum wage,” Albert said.
