Emmer Thinks Working Minnesotans Make Too Much Money

On Monday, State Representative and Republican Candidate for Governor Tom Emmer told Minnesotans he thinks workers who receive tips should be penalized and paid below minimum wage.

“Tom Emmer sent a clear message yesterday, he thinks middle and low income Minnesotans make too much money,” said Minnesota AFL-CIO President Shar Knutson.

Despite Emmer’s anecdotal evidence, Minnesota’s Department of Employment and Economic Development reports the state median wage for servers is $9.36 per hour. It’s also important to remember that most servers can’t get 40 hours of work a week and only a small fraction get health benefits.

"Creating a punitive two-tier Minimum Wage, the basic floor of our working economy, leaves upwards of 45,000 workers behind and robs them of that basic plank in wages they depend on," said Wade Luneburg, Political Director of UNITE HERE Minnesota.

Knutson added that Emmer’s view that making $9 an hour without health care is overpaid is yet another sign that he is not on the side of middle class Minnesotans.

“Frankly, Tom Emmer’s support for a tip penalty shows how out of touch he really is and how unprepared he is to be Minnesota’s Governor.”