Madison Reporter

Today in Madison, Wisconsin, Representative Lisa Subeck introduced new legislation titled "Raise the Wage" as part of the Building Economic Security Together (BEST) agenda. The announcement was made during a press conference with other Democratic legislators.

The proposed bill aims to increase the minimum wage to $10.85 immediately upon enactment and then to $15 after one year. Subsequently, the minimum wage would be adjusted annually based on inflation rates. The legislation also seeks to remove an existing state law provision that prevents local governments from setting their own minimum wages and intends to abolish the lower minimum wage for tipped workers.

Representative Subeck stated, “No one who works hard every day should have to be poor.” She emphasized that all workers deserve the dignity of being able to provide for themselves and their families.

An October 2023 report by the High Road Strategy Center at the University of Wisconsin highlighted that around 9% of Wisconsin's workforce currently earns less than $15 per hour. If passed, this bill would result in pay raises for approximately 232,000 workers.

"Wisconsin’s minimum wage has not increased in more than a decade," added Subeck. "It is time we raise our minimum wage, start attracting more workers to our state, and make the phrase ‘working poor’ the oxymoron that it ought to be.”