Efforts to raise the state minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to nine dollars an hour failed to gain traction in the Wyoming House of Representatives. They voted down the bill Tuesday, 51 to 9. The wage mainly impacts service workers.
Cheyenne Democrat Jim Byrd was the sponsor. He said that he was attempting to help people earn a living wage. He also said that it wouldn’t hurt business owners, but it would help the local economy.
“Dollars are dollars that are turned over in the community two or three times to buy a bag of groceries, an extra pair of shoes for the kids, and a tank of gas," Byrd said.
But others objected to the legislation. Evansville Republican Kendell Kroeker said it would keep businesses from hiring young and inexperienced people.
