Bill's Sponsor Says It's Necessary For State Job Preservation
Advocates took their fight to make sure workers make enough money to get by to the Legislature Monday.They
wanted to lobby state representatives against House bill 311. The
legislation would block local government from requiring private
employers to pay a living wage other than the state or federally
mandated minimum wage.The bill's sponsor, Republican Rep. Charles Sargent, has said it's necessary to keep jobs in Tennessee. But living wage advocates said it will mean lower wages for families already struggling in this recession.
Memphis Tenn., has already passed a living wage bill which was able to lift working families out of poverty in Memphis," said Megan Macaraeg, a living wage advocate. "(It) didn't hurt local business, didn't have a negative effect on the economy. And, as a matter of fact, that local government was able to determine what was good for its own city and its own residents."The bill cleared the Senate last month. There's no time set at this point for the House to take up the legislation.<!--stopindex-->
Memphis Tenn., has already passed a living wage bill which was able to lift working families out of poverty in Memphis," said Megan Macaraeg, a living wage advocate. "(It) didn't hurt local business, didn't have a negative effect on the economy. And, as a matter of fact, that local government was able to determine what was good for its own city and its own residents."The bill cleared the Senate last month. There's no time set at this point for the House to take up the legislation.<!--stopindex-->
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