Some of Colorado’s biggest business groups are opposing a November ballot initiative to raise the minimum wage to $6.85 from the federally mandated $5.15.
The constitutional amendment would adjust the minimum hourly wage annually with inflation, according to initiative language. It also calls for the minimum wage of waitstaff and others who make tips to rise from $2.13 to $3.83 and adjust annually with inflation.
Business groups argue that such a measure does not belong in the constitution, said Jan Rigg, a spokeswoman for the “Respect Colorado’s Constitution” coalition which includes the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Colorado Restaurant Association and the Colorado Hotel and Lodging Association.
“Minimum wage mandates increase inflation by making entry-level jobs more expensive to employers,” said Chris Howes, a Colorado lobbyist who is chairing the campaign. “Job losses will result as employers are forced to make cuts to ensure they can comply with the mandate.”
Coloradans for a Fair Minimum Wage, a coalition of group that gathered more than 130,000 signatures to get the measure on the ballot, said it expected opposition.
“It’s not going to change our message that hard work deserves fair pay,” said Ben Hanna, a spokesman for the Colorado Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now, or ACORN, a non-partisan group in the coalition.
“For us, it’s a fairness issue and a timely issue,” Hanna said.
Political analysts say such “wedge issues” are crafted to bring out voters in traditionally low interest mid-term election years. A measure to ban gay marriage is also on the Colorado ballot this year, for example.
Staff writer Beth Potter can be reached at 303-820-1503 or bpotter@denverpost.com.
