D.C. Council pauses Initiative 82 tipped wage increase
Arguing that restaurants are facing tough times, the D.C. Council paused the next phase of Initiative 82, weeks ahead of a scheduled rise in the tipped minimum wage.
Why it matters: Lawmakers voted 8-4 Tuesday to freeze the wage increase while it considers a full repeal of the law — as sought by Mayor Muriel Bowser and the restaurant industry.
State of play: The tipped minimum wage will stay at $10 per hour and not rise to $12 on July 1, as was mandated in the ballot initiative.
Council members supporting the pause argued that it does not change the fact that servers, bartenders and other tipped workers are still entitled to the District's full minimum wage. If a worker doesn't receive enough in tips, the business has to pitch in the difference.
The city's hourly minimum wage for all workers is scheduled to increase from $17.50 to $17.95 on July 1.
Between the lines: Initiative 82 has been controversial at City Hall and in the hospitality world. And with restaurants imposing service fees to help cover costs, it's sparked confusion among diners.
But there's been plenty of support at the ballot box: 74% of District voters approved it less than three years ago. A predecessor initiative passed in 2018, but the D.C. Council stopped it from taking effect.
This time, council members said they are intervening because of inflation squeezing independent restaurants, diners spending less, and uncertain tariffs.
Also on lawmakers' minds: Congress is considering removing federal taxes on tips up to $25,000 for people making $160,000 or less.
Several council members said they want to see how that proposal shakes out in the months ahead before moving forward.
What they're saying: The three-month pause"allows the council to fully consider the data and the impact on our local restaurant industry," said Council member Kenyan McDuffie, urging colleagues to vote in favor.
The other side: "Voters have now passed this twice," Council member Brianne Nadeau said. "A pause is not respecting the will of the voters."
Zoom out: Bowser is pushing for a complete repeal through her budget proposal, but there may not be enough support on the council.
Council members Christina Henderson and Charles Allen voted for the pause, but said they don't support overturning I-82.
Catch up fast: Initiative 82 incrementally increases the base pay for tipped workers until it matches the citywide minimum wage by 2027.
Labor advocates say I-82 has led to higher wages and fairer practices. Many businesses argue it's been hugely detrimental.
Some hospitality workers say they used to make more money off tips before I-82, and that now customers may be less likely to tip generously because of service fees.
Washington's restaurant association wants a repeal to set back the tipped minimum wage to around $5.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hill
an hour ago
- The Hill
Trump's attacks on the rule of law threaten all Americans
Since returning to the White House, President Trump has repeatedly and persistently misused his executive authority to attack and intimidate anyone who would dare to check him. In his first few months, he has gone after the free press, encroached on the independence of Congress and the courts, stifled institutions of higher learning, fired inspectors general and others inside the federal government who could hold him accountable, and even targeted law firms that represent clients he dislikes. These abuses of power trample the values of our democracy and violate the rights of everyday Americans. When a president threatens law firms for retribution, it's an attack on the constitutional rights of all Americans to access legal counsel, voice dissent and make clear what we expect from our leaders. As attorney general of Minnesota, I know lawyers are not just spectators to the Constitution — we are its agents. We defend laws that protect people from harm. We hold bad actors accountable. We take a solemn oath to respect the courts. And when the executive branch oversteps the bounds of its authority, state attorneys general check the federal government to protect our residents' rights. Above all, we stand for the rule of law. But attacks on the rule of law have become a hallmark of the new administration. President Trump has disparaged federal judges as 'lunatics' and called for their impeachment, earning the reprimand of Chief Justice John Roberts. He has ignored court orders after illegally deporting a lawful U.S. resident without due process, treading close to charges of contempt. He has signed executive orders to punish some of the largest law firms in the country because they dared to go against him in court or take on clients he viewed as political enemies. When 'Meet the Press' recently asked the president if his job is to uphold the Constitution, he said, 'I don't know.' But that is absolutely his job: The president took an oath to 'preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,' and we all watched him do it. To disregard this duty is unacceptable and alarming. These escalating attacks on courts, judges, lawyers and the rule of law are a blatant attempt to avoid accountability and to intimidate the people whose job it is to uphold the Constitution. Fortunately, our legal system is showing its resilience in the face of these attacks. A federal judge made it abundantly clear last week that the president's retaliation campaign against law firms is unconstitutional. In a powerful 102-page ruling, U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell called the president's executive order against Perkins Coie — a law firm that has represented Trump's opponents — an 'unprecedented attack' on our foundational principles. She issued a warning that we should all take heed of: 'Eliminating lawyers as the guardians of the rule of law removes a major impediment to the path to more power.' The ruling is a heartening decision for the rule of law. But we must stay vigilant: Trump has a boundless appetite for retaliation against anyone who sides with the truth over his lies. In addition to his attacks on Perkins Coie and other firms, last month, the president called on the Department of Justice to investigate and sanction officials from his prior administration because they had the audacity to defy him. In one executive order, Trump called Christopher Krebs, the former head of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, 'abusive' because he said the 2020 election was secure and accurate. We have seen what happens when the president's allies side with Trump instead of the truth and the rule of law. Even when Trump manages to escape accountability, those around him often do not. The failed campaign to overturn the accurate results of the 2020 election led to the punishment of several unethical attorneys behind it, such as John Eastman, Sidney Powell, Rudy Giuliani and Jenna Ellis. They were held accountable by state and federal justice departments, as well as several state bar authorities, for failing to uphold their oaths as attorneys committed to the rule of law. In this challenging time, when Americans' right to choose their counsel and defend their constitutional rights is under attack, lawyers who serve the public have a critical role to play. But those who want to honor their oaths to the American public are in a difficult position — we've already seen government lawyers who stand up to the administration dismissed from their positions. We should all be ready to support them for honoring their values, and for sharing the truth of the administration's willingness to abandon the rule of law. And they should know that attorneys general across the states are standing with them, working to ensure the law applies equally to everyone. As attorneys and public servants, our loyalty must be to faithfully execute and defend the law, not bow to the bully in the White House. Keith Ellison is attorney general of Minnesota.
Fox News
an hour ago
- Fox News
Q & Trey: Where Has the Shame Gone In Our Culture?
What will the political environment be like for the Republican Party after President Trump leaves the White House? And who will step forward to lead it? Are members of Congress able to attend meetings and vote after being censured, and how severe is the punishment? Trey shares his thoughts on these questions and more on today's Q & Trey! Plus, he explains why he's not so happy with Scottie Scheffler at the moment, even if he's still rooting for him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Opinion - Speaker Johnson, the Blue Dogs are here to throw you a bone
Over the last few weeks, Americans have been hearing endless mentions of the 'One Big Beautiful Bill.' Although the Republicans' reconciliation proposal is certainly big — so big it would add over $4 trillion to our national debt — it is by no means beautiful. There is no way to hide the ugly reality of this bill. It allows for $2.8 trillion in new borrowing over the 10-year budget window, adds $3.3 trillion to the already more than $36 trillion national debt, and cuts over $700 billion from federal health care spending, primarily Medicaid. By 2034, our debt-to-GDP ratio would be at 125 percent. Interest payments could exceed $2 trillion a year, making it impossible to pay off the debt. Considering we already spend more on servicing our debt than on stewarding American defense capabilities and health care, we are accelerating down an unsustainable and dangerous path. Unrestrained fiscal policy has plagued the U.S. for decades, and it has not been limited to one side of the aisle. While members of Congress sit insulated on Capitol Hill and alternate between irresponsible tax cuts and excessive spending, life gets worse for everyday Americans. Moody's recently lowered the U.S. long-term credit ratings to AA1 from AAA. At the same time, the world is moving further and further away from the American dollar. This means Americans are left with a smaller economy, less economic mobility, and a lower standard of living. As we know all too well, excessive borrowing leads to inflation and drives up interest rates, making it harder for Americans to finance a home, start a business, and put food on the table. This is unsustainable and has to change very quickly. Don't just take it from us: In a recent Wall Street Journal editorial, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wisc.) wrote called it 'essential that Congress deviate from its current path. Under every scenario now being considered, federal debt continues to skyrocket from its current level of almost $37 trillion.' So far in the 119th Congress, the majority hasn't shown much of an appetite to deviate from this trajectory. In order to hand out tax breaks to the ultra-wealthy, the Republican reconciliation package would make devastating cuts to food assistance programs, health coverage, and other federal resources that hard-working Americans rely on to make ends meet. Is it so important to our colleagues across the aisle to give a handout to their mega-wealthy buddies that they would strap everyday Americans with even more crushing debt? The national debt and our federal government's spending deficit may seem like far-off, intangible concepts when D.C. bureaucrats and television talking heads drone on about them for weeks on end. But the American people know perfectly well how debt adds up. Our constituents have to balance their budgets every month — why can't the federal government do the same? The truth is, we can. For decades, Congress has chosen not to do so, perhaps because it isn't politically expedient or it just takes too much hard work. Regardless, Congress and our federal government broadly are derelict in our duty to responsibly manage the government's finances. Since our coalition was founded in the 1990s, the cornerstone of the Blue Dogs' work has been our relentless focus on fiscal responsibility. For years, Blue Dogs supported legislation to curb reckless spending, hold both Democrats and Republicans accountable to our constituents, and require that Congress balance the budget. We had a willing partner in President Bill Clinton, who remains the most recent example of real fiscal discipline in the federal government. Now, as then, Blue Dogs know that the American people have one demand for their legislators as prices continue to rise and reckless fiscal policy threatens their livelihoods: 'It's the economy, stupid!' As this cry goes unanswered by a majority in Congress that proposes to drive our national debt to truly harrowing heights, Americans who work hard to pay their bills and take care of their families are losing confidence in their government. Each day this irresponsible spending continues, young Americans' dreams that they can achieve the economic prosperity their parents did slip further and further away. The Blue Dogs' vision to solve this problem is proving that our government can work. We believe that change is not only possible but essential. It doesn't have to be this way. There's another way forward: a bipartisan, commonsense way that pays down our debt while extending tax cuts to working Americans who need them most. Evidently, our offers to Republican leadership to work together on this fell on deaf ears this time. But with costs rising, confidence in government is sinking. Americans are eager for change, and we remain committed to using a steady hand to deliver pragmatic policies that most Americans agree on. In that spirit, our offer still stands. We are eager to work with our Republican colleagues to solve the issues facing our country and deliver results to the American people. We ask our colleagues: Will you work with us to deliver results? The authors are all members of the House Blue Dog Coalition. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
