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EPI Warns Illinois House: Tip Credit Elimination Will Turn Illinois into D.C. Disaster: Tip Credit Elimination Could Kill Thousands of State Jobs and Restaurants
March 2024
Arlington, Va. – On Wednesday, the Illinois House Labor and Commerce Committee will hear public testimony on House Bill 5345, which would eliminate the state’s tip credit and nearly double the current required hourly wage for tipped employees. Rebekah Paxton, research director for the Employment Policies Institute (EPI), submitted written testimony ahead of the hearing, highlighting the adverse impacts this policy would have on Illinois’ servers, bartenders,… -
Virginia’s Proposed $15 Wage Could Cost over 12,000 Jobs: The Employment Policies Institute Slams SB 1 and HB1, “Nothing but feel-good politics endangering tens of thousands of Virginia jobs”
February 2024
Arlington, Va. – Today, the Virginia Senate advanced its bill (SB 1) proposing an increase in the state minimum wage from $12 to $15 per hour. Last week, the House referred its own identical bill (HB 1) to the Senate Committee on Commerce and Labor for consideration. Tuesday was the deadline for each chamber to advance legislation in order to send it to colleagues in the opposite… -
Governor Shapiro’s $15 wage could cost Pennsylvania 86k jobs
February 2024
In his inaugural budget address Tuesday, Governor Josh Shapiro proposed raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour as early as January 1, 2025 per his state budget. This reflects House Bill 1500 (HB 1500) passed by House lawmakers last year, and would raise the base wage for tipped restaurant employees up to $9 per hour. This would more than double Pennsylvania’s current minimum wage in less than a year.… -
Oklahomans Should Beware of Unintended Consequences of $15 Wage: Economists Estimate it Could Cost Over 12,000 Jobs Statewide
February 2024
Arlington, Va. – Today, the Oklahoma Supreme Court heard oral arguments regarding State Question 832, a ballot measure proposing a $15 minimum wage statewide. The Court will soon issue a decision on whether proponents will be able to move forward gathering signatures to place it on the ballot in November. The Employment Policies Institute (EPI), a Washington, D.C.-area nonprofit specializing in economic policy research, estimates this policy… -
EPI Warns Maryland Senators Against Tip Credit Elimination: Following D.C. Disaster, Tip Credit Elimination Could Kill Thousands of Jobs
January 2024
Arlington, Va. – On Thursday, the Maryland Senate Finance committee will hear public testimony on Senate Bill 160, which would eliminate the state’s tip credit and raise the current required hourly wage for tipped employees by more than 300%. The language mirrors a similar proposal introduced last year, which died in the committee after dozens of local employees voiced their concerns. Rebekah Paxton, research director for the… -
EPI Applauds Withdrawal of Tip Credit Elimination Bill in Montgomery County
January 2024
Arlington, Va – On January 16, Montgomery County Council member Will Jawando announced he would withdraw his bill to eliminate the tip credit countywide. The Employment Policies Institute applauds this decision, due to its potential to harm Montgomery County’s restaurant employees’ jobs and livelihoods. In response, EPI’s director of research Rebekah Paxton released the following statement: “Employees across Maryland, including last fall in Montgomery County, turned out in droves to…