County Board Pushes to Raise Minimum Wage

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At their May 7, 2014 meeting, Washtenaw County commissioners passed a resolution calling for an increase in Michigan’s minimum wage to $10.10 per hour, over dissent from Alicia Ping (R-District 3). Not voting yes was also Dan Smith (R-District 2) who stated “Present” for his vote and Rolland Sizemore Jr. (D-District 5) was not in the room when the vote was taken.

At the board’s April 2, 2014 meeting, board chair Yousef Rabhi (D-District 8) had indicated his intent to bring forward this resolution. Earlier in the day, President Barack Obama had given a speech at the University of Michigan that focused on the need to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10. The resolution debated on May 7 includes a quote from Obama’s speech: “We believe our economy grows best not from the top down, but from the middle out, and from the bottom up paychecks and wages that allow you to support a family…Nobody who works full-time should be raising their family in poverty.” [.pdf of resolution]

The two resolved clauses state:

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners hereby voices support for the efforts of President Obama to increase the Federal Minimum Wage to $10.10 per hour.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Washtenaw County Board of Commissioners supports the current efforts of legislators and citizen groups to increase Michigan’s minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.

There was no discussion on this item prior to the vote.

This brief was filed from the boardroom of the county administration building at 220 N. Main St. in Ann Arbor. A more detailed report will follow: [link]