Republican legislators opposing a ballot measure to raise the minimum wage in Colorado complain that its inflation adjustment will pose a “threat to thousands of small businesses” in places such as Grand Junction, Pueblo and Lamar.
Amendment 42 asks Colorado voters to raise the minimum hourly wage from $5.15 to $6.85 in January. The constitutional amendment would adjust the minimum wage for inflation in future years using a Consumer Price Index.
The CPI, compiled by the federal Bureau of Labor Statistics twice a year, measures 38 urban areas nationally. In Colorado, prices in the Denver, Boulder and Greeley region are measured.
“To tie a constitutional mechanism that (stretches statewide) to Boulder, Greeley and Denver, I think, is detrimental,” said state Rep. Cory Gardner of Yuma.
Gardner and three other legislators sent a letter this week asking the Colorado Legislative Council to explain the Consumer Price Index information in a “blue book” mailed to voters before the election. The other three are Rep. Mark Larson of Durango, Josh Penry of Grand Junction and state Sen. Greg Brophy of Wray.
The legislative council decided not to do so in a meeting Thursday.
“They voted not to clarify that for the voters. I’m not sure what they’re so afraid of,” said Jan Rigg, a spokeswoman for Respect Colorado’s Constitution, a business-backed group opposing the minimum-wage hike.
Mark Grueskin, an attorney for the measure’s proponents, said the index could be broadened or narrowed, according to U.S. government data.
“Our goal was a CPI that currently exists,” Grueskin said.
Staff writer Beth Potter can be reached at 303-954-1503 or bpotter@denverpost.com.
