Democrats make push for passage of minimum wage

Kirsten Searer

Tuesday, Feb. 22, 2005 | 9:16 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Democratic legislative leaders warned the Republican-controlled Senate on Monday that the public is behind them on their quest to raise the minimum wage.

"The voters have spoken very loudly and very clearly," said Assemblywoman Chris Giunchigliani, D-Las Vegas.

Giunchigliani introduced a bill Friday that would change state law to raise the minimum wage by $1 an hour, to $6.15, and would tie wage hikes to inflation. Employers who offer health insurance to their employees would be exempt from the increase.

In November, 68 percent of voters approved a measure to change the state Constitution and raise the minimum wage, but the measure has to go up for vote again in 2006. Constitutional amendments require two votes by the people.

The Legislature, however, could change state law immediately, and the new minimum wage could be in effect by July.

The Democratic leaders expressed confidence they can push their measure through the Democratic-controlled Assembly. They said all members of the Democratic Senate caucus are in favor of the measure, which would affect an estimated 51,000 Nevadans who make minimum wage.

Then, they said, it will be up to Republican leaders.

"This is not a partisan issue," said Assembly Speaker Richard Perkins, D-Henderson.

Senate Majority Leader Bill Raggio, R-Reno, said he hasn't decided either way on the bill and wants to research more on what would happen if legislators passed a minimum wage increase in statute this session and voters gave the final OK to a constitutional amendment in 2006.

He said he recognized that voters liked the measure last year. It was the most popular statewide issue on the ballot, even besting Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., who won 61 percent of the vote in his re-election bid.

The minimum wage hike passed in every one of Nevada's 17 counties. The lowest approval rate was 60 percent in Esmeralda and Lincoln counties.

"That's a strong argument in favor of it," Raggio said. "I would have to look at it."

The bill was mostly co-signed by Democrats, but several Republicans lent their names, including Sen. Mark Amodei pf Carson City, as well as Assemblymen John Carpenter of Elko; Pete Goicoechea, Eureka; Tom Grady, Carson City; John Marvel, Battle Mountain; Bob Seale, Henderson; Rod Sherer, Pahrump, and Scott Sibley, Las Vegas.

The bill is scheduled to go before the Assembly's Commerce and Labor Committee at 2 p.m. Wednesday. Public testimony can be given via videoconference in Las Vegas at the Sawyer State Office Building, 555 E. Washington.