DC Council to Consider Min. Wage Bill

WASHINGTON (AP) -- A bill to increase the minimum wage to $15 in the nation's capital has been revised to have a less dramatic impact on the city's restaurant industry.

A D.C. Council committee is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the bill, which would raise the minimum wage to $5.55 an hour for workers who rely on tips. That's double the current minimum for tipped workers.

Democratic Mayor Muriel Bowser's administration had proposed a $7.50 minimum for tipped workers. A hearing last week on the wage bill focused mostly on that proposal. Restaurant industry representatives said that would harm their businesses and lead to servers and bartenders making less money, not more.

Democratic Council member Vincent Orange drafted the compromise. He had expressed reservations about a big increase in the tipped minimum.

(KA)