By: State Rep. Pauline Wendzel 

Immediately after the 103^rd Legislature was sworn into office, House Republicans got to work fulfilling our promises to Michigan’s hardworking restaurant employees and small businesses. Speaker Hall created the Select Committee on Protecting Michigan Employees and Small Businesses and appointed me to serve as a member.  

The Committee will lead discussion and pursue reforms to help hardworking Michiganders maintain their livelihoods and help small businesses keep their doors open.  The creation of this committee follows a short-sighted Michigan Supreme Court decision from last summer that puts unrealistic mandates on small businesses regarding wages and sick leave while phasing out the tip credit, which provides a key source of income for workers and in often cases is more than an employee would make with an increased minimum wage – notably in the service industry.  

For months, House Republicans have listened to restaurant workers and small business owners share how the Supreme Court decision will impact their lives.  It would be catastrophic. With 1 in 5 restaurants at risk of closing and more than 60,000 jobs on the line, House Republicans promised immediate action, and now we’re delivering on that promise. 

The 15-member select committee, which will feature both Republican and Democrat legislators, will hold our first hearing on Tuesday followed by a subsequent meeting on Thursday.  The Committee will take testimony on House Bills 4001 and 4002, a commonsense compromise that can get signed into law in divided government. The bills preserve tipped wages, move toward a higher minimum wage, and maintain the status quo for earned sick leave while ensuring small businesses with low staff numbers are not harshly impacted by no-notice sick leave that would routinely leave them understaffed and overwhelmed. 

Waiters, bartenders, and small business owners spoke, and House Republicans listened.  We’re getting to work, and we’re ready to deliver for our residents.