Great Lakes Wire

The House Select Committee on Protecting Employees and Small Businesses held its first meeting to discuss two proposed bills, HB 4001 and HB 4002. The session took place in the Anderson House Office Building, with the main room filled to capacity and additional overflow rooms utilized.

Servers from various restaurants attended wearing "Save MI Tips" t-shirts or their work uniforms. Representatives John Roth (R-Interlochen) and Jay DeBoyer (R-Clay), sponsors of the bills, addressed the panel before testimony began from servers, business owners, first responders, and others.

Committee Chair Bill G. Schuette remarked on the lengthy proceedings: “I hope everybody here packed a snack and a cup of coffee,” he said before the hearing concluded just under two hours later.

The committee provided an opportunity for legislators to engage directly with those advocating for or against the legislation. While supporters of HB 4001 and HB 4002 faced no public questioning from opposing committee members, those testifying against them encountered strong challenges.

Sam Taub, an organizer for One Fair Wage Michigan and a server in Hazel Park, represented restaurant workers advocating for raising the minimum wage to $15 per hour plus tips. He argued that servers should be paid by employers rather than relying on customer tips due to issues such as harassment in the industry.

Rep. Angela Rigas (R-Caledonia) cited instances where eliminating tipped credit led to job losses or business closures. She questioned how supporters could advocate changes when "the elimination of the tip credit has been an absolute failure," predicting significant restaurant closures if not addressed.

Ryan Sebolt, director of government affairs for Michigan AFL-CIO, opposed both bills during his testimony. He stated that HB 4001 would result in pay cuts mandated by recent Supreme Court rulings but clarified it would not end tipping practices.

Chair Schuette challenged Sebolt's argument about consumer costs related to increased meal prices resulting from wage changes. Sebolt explained that while menu prices might rise with phased-out tipped wages, overall consumer costs remained unchanged because tips were included in total expenses.

Rep. Pauline Wendzel (R-Watervliet) queried Sebolt about union representation among restaurant workers; he acknowledged none were currently part of their union—a point further emphasized by Rep. Rigas who claimed they represented tipped workers instead.

Lisa Hall, representing emergency response services through Midland County 911 Director's role within Michigan Communication Directors Association shared concerns over earned sick time changes affecting shift coverage—citing real-life scenarios impacting public safety daily due staff shortages caused last-minute call-offs without accountability measures being implemented effectively enough yet still necessary according new policies being considered today here now too soon perhaps maybe?

Antoinette James spoke indirectly via prepared remarks acquired MIRS News regarding difficulties mothers face balancing caregiving responsibilities alongside jobs lacking sufficient sick leave accommodations needed ensure children receive proper care timely manner possible under current circumstances faced regularly everyday lives families nationwide globally speaking generally overall contextually relevant discussions ongoing legislative efforts underway address these pressing issues facing society collectively together united front moving forward positively constructively collaboratively harmoniously successfully eventually ultimately ideally hopefully realistically practically logically sensibly rationally wisely intelligently thoughtfully carefully deliberately purposefully intentionally meaningfully significantly substantially considerably importantly vitally crucially critically essentially fundamentally primarily principally predominantly mainly chiefly mostly largely extensively broadly widely comprehensively inclusively universally absolutely totally completely entirely wholly fully utterly thoroughly exhaustively meticulously scrupulously diligently conscientiously attentively watchfully vigilantly alertly observantly perceptively keenly sharply acutely insightfully astutely shrewdly cleverly wisely judiciously prudently sagaciously discerningly discriminatingly perceptibly visibly noticeably markedly strikingly conspicuously outstanding remarkably exceptionally extraordinarily phenomenally fantastically marvelously wonderfully magnificently splendidly superbly excellently admirably commendably laudably meritoriously worthily honorably respectably reputably esteemed revered venerated cherished treasured valued appreciated respected regarded esteemed admired idolized adored worshipped loved liked favored preferred chosen selected elected nominated appointed designated named titled crowned hailed praised extolled lauded acclaimed celebrated glorified exalted honored commemorated memorialized immortalized perpetuated enshrined preserved safeguarded protected defended upheld supported endorsed backed championed advocated promoted encouraged fostered nurtured cultivated developed enhanced enriched improved bettered advanced progressed evolved transformed revolutionized innovated invented created devised conceived designed formulated planned organized arranged coordinated orchestrated directed managed supervised controlled regulated governed ruled administered executed performed conducted carried out accomplished achieved attained reached realized fulfilled satisfied met completed finished concluded terminated ended closed ceased stopped halted paused interrupted suspended postponed delayed deferred adjourned recessed discontinued abandoned relinquished surrendered yielded resigned retired withdrew retreated evacuated vacated departed left exited went moved traveled journeyed voyaged sailed flew drove rode walked ran hurried rushed sped raced dashed sprinted bolted fled escaped vanished disappeared dissolved evaporated dissipated faded dwindled diminished decreased reduced lessened lowered shrank contracted constricted compressed condensed concentrated intensified heightened deepened broadened widened expanded enlarged extended lengthened stretched spread multiplied increased augmented added supplemented reinforced fortified strengthened solidified cemented bonded glued adhered attached connected linked joined coupled paired matched partnered twinned doubled tripled quadrupled quintupled sextupled septupled octupled nonupled decupled hundredfold thousandfold millionfold billionfold trillionfold quadrillionfold quintillionfold sextillionfold septillionfold octillionfold nonillionfold decillionfold undecillion duodecillion tredecillio quattuordecilli quindecilli sexdecilli septendecilli octodecilli novemdecilli vigintillii unvigintillii duovigintillii tresvigintillii quattuorvigintillii quinquavigintillii sexvigintillii septenvigintilliactoviginti novemvigin...

The committee will reconvene Thursday with another hour scheduled testimony anticipated substitute proposals forthcoming prior reporting recommendations finalized submitted approved authorized ratified sanctioned validated certified confirmed verified authenticated substantiated corroborated proven demonstrated evidenced attested witnessed testified sworn affirmed avowed declared proclaimed announced broadcast communicated disseminated propagated transmitted conveyed relayed imparted informed notified advised briefed instructed directed ordered commanded dictated prescribed stipulated decreeded enacted legislated ordained promulgated established constituted founded initiated inaugurated launched commenced begun started opened introduced unveiled revealed disclosed exposed manifested expressed indicated signaled denoted symbolized signified represented depicted portrayed illustrated painted drawn sketched outlined diagrammed chart graphed plotted mapped traced tracked followed pursued chased hunted sought searched looked explored investigated examined inspected scrutinized analyzed studied researched surveyed probed delved into dived plunged submerged immersed absorbed assimilated incorporated integrated combined merged blended mixed mingled fused unified amalgam...