TOPEKA – The handful of workers that make the state’s minimum wage of $2.65 will see their pay checks increase Jan. 1.
Gov. Kathleen Sebelius, a Democrat, today igned Senate Bill 160, which would bring the state’s minimum wage up to the federal $7.25. It’s the first time in two decades Kansas has increased the rate.
The issue has long been a top goal for Sebelius’ party but had initially found little support among Republicans. In her statement on the bill, the governor called the increase “long overdue.”
“While the state minimum wage only applies to a small sector of Kansas’ workforce, to them and their families, this legislation is critically important,” she wrote. “Our economy must return to its core principle that an honest day’s work brings home an honest day’s pay, and today we’re taking a step in that direction.”
Minimum wage was one of two high-profile bills sitting on the governor’s desk. Still no word on what she plans to do on a proposal that, among other provisions, would change late-term abortion reporting requirements.
Today is the deadline for Sebelius to take some action on the proposal – either sign it into law or veto it – or the bill could become law without her signature.
Earlier this week, the Senate Finance Committee approved the governor’s nomination for secretary of Health and Human Services, sending the matter to the full U.S. Senate.
While she didn’t face questions about abortion during her confirmation hearings, abortion opponents have vocally opposed her for the position. They’ve pointed to her prior use of vetoes to block legislation changing abortion rules and her ties to Wichita late-term abortion provider Dr. George Tiller.
11 Comments
I am more than happy to see the minimum wage raised. My only question now is, what is going to happen to those of us who make just above the minimum? Are our wages going to increase since, most likely, everything else will increase in price?
Looks like Bobby1966 is going to get a raise!
This is only the state minimum wage that doesn’t effect many people of the work force. Some health care workers and some wait staff. Almost all businesses are under the federal minimum wage because they have some tie into interstate commerce.
I recommend cutting back on tipping. The ONLY people that actually made $2.65 was servers. They just got a $5/hr increase in pay!….Sorry, but shuffling food and drink is not a job that requires any real expertise. It does not take many tables at 10 bucks a plate before servers are making more than 20 bucks an hour….That is simply too much for a job I can train anyone(even a high school drop-out)to do! ….and you thought aircraft workers get overpaid….HA!
There goes the .99 menu items…
annievany, I’m guessing this will have no impact on you other than maybe changing the work force dynamics where your employer and other employers might have to pay more to workers from changing jobs as these minimum wage jobs become more attractive. Time will tell.
A question for everyone; I would like to know though; who exactly are these workers that are making $2.65 an hour? What kind of jobs are they?
Tippable wage – i.e. bartenders, waiters/waitresses, can be paid only 2.65.
Planeguy- I worked in the food drink industry while in college and if you think that that line of work is so easy I suggest to try it out yourself. you would be fail I am sure.
What this law will do is raise tyhe wage of those workers who are both essential to the operation of their employer and now being paid less than $7.25 an hour. For those workers who are not worth that much, the company will decide whether it is worth the cost to replace the job with a computer controlled machine or if the job is really essential.
Bottom-line, unemployment will be going up.
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Keep on tipping, because I serve tables and get paid $2.25/hour. (Not $2.65) There has been no increase in my paycheck and I don’t know if that is because my boss is crook or if that is for everyone in the restaurant industry.