LANSING, Mich. (CBS DETROIT) — Michigan House Democrats and Republicans were back and forth as GOP lawmakers walked out of Friday’s session in protest. They say Democrats have failed to negotiate sick leave and tip rules for workers.
“Republicans in the House of Representatives and Republicans in the Senate want to ensure that restaurant workers can keep their tips. The way Democrats are moving now, tipped wages will disappear,” said Republican Party Rep. Brian Posthumus.
Friday’s lame-duck session comes after new Michigan Supreme Court decisions take effect in February on tipped wages and sick leave policies.
“This caucus message to Chairman Tate is to craft legislation to keep the earned sick leave policy alive and to protect our restaurant workers until that happens,” said GOP Rep. Matt Hall.
House Democrats say Republicans are playing politics, while House Speaker Joe Tate says Democrats will continue to pass legislation. But time is ticking.
“Today is the last day to send a bill that first comes out of the House, to the Senate and ultimately to the governor’s desk. However, there are still numerous bills to work on,” Tate said.
Over the next five years, the tipped minimum wage will be phased out, meaning the minimum wage will be the same for workers whether they are tipped or not. Some are concerned that this will lead to less travel and higher costs for entrepreneurs.
“If we don’t move the car bills today — on issues like sick leave and tips, the minimum wage and the roads, then it’s all dead because of the Democrats,” Hall said.
Republicans will have a majority in the House of Representatives in January. However, Tate said Friday’s move by Republicans is concerning.
“If they don’t want to continue negotiating to move the state of Michigan forward, then that’s concerning when the default is to walk away and just leave,” Tate said.
Now Democrats in the House of Representatives are calling on Republicans to pay back their salaries for refusing to help voters. The Republican Party says they won’t speak again until bills are voted on that would preserve the tip credit and make changes to sick leave laws.
Terell Bailey
