Talk of Lowering the Current Minimum Wage Took Place in a Senate Committee

Intro:	As inflation rises the wages for Missouri workers will not if a bill that went through the a Senate Committee Tuesday passes.
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Wrap: Missouri minimum wages currently rises with the yearly inflation, however, a Senate bill sponsored by R. Jason Crowell will prohibit minimum wages to exceed the federal limit.

The Chairman of the Small Business Committee is R. Scott Rupp and he is in favor of the bill to bring more business to Missouri.

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Description: "Well I think the bill is very interesting because if we start to exceed the national minimum wage then we all of the sudden become even more uncompetitive compared to neighboring states."

However, CEO of Vintage Vinyl, a local St. Louis music store, disagrees with keeping the minimum wage the same.

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Description: "That's all that minimum wage indexing does. It keeps people who are barely staying above water from drowning."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Becky May, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	Missouri Senate heard a bill keeping the minimum wage at a standstill while inflation steadily rises.
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Wrap: The Senate's small business committee heard testimony on whether the minimum wage should exceed the federal standard Tuesday.

R. Senator Scott Rupp is the chairman of the committee and is in favor of the bill.

He says any government mandate hurts small businesses.

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Description: "Forcing some to pay an extra quarter or 35 cents an hour when they can't afford it is detrimental to a state's economy as a whole."

The bill will be sent back to Missouri voters, but spokesperson for Jobs with Justice says the Cost of Living Adjustment is something that the voters want.

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Description: "Very popular with the voters. The idea that workers should keep up and not fall behind."

Reporting from the state Capitol, I'm Becky May, Newsradio 1120 KMOX.

Intro:	A bill prohibiting minimum wage to exceed the federal standard was brought into discussion Tuesday.
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Wrap: A Missouri Senate committee heard businesses speaking for and against allowing the minimum wage to pass the federal limit.

Lew Prince spoke on behalf of his local music store, Vintage Vinyl and says prohibiting the increase of wage will hurt his store because it hurts his workers.

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Description: "People who work full time should be able to support their families decently. It's basic justice, but barely possible at the current minimum wage."

However, chairman of the small business committee Scott Rupp disagrees with the effect on small businesses.

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Description: "Any type of a government mandate on small businesses is going to be detrimental."

Rupp says by passing this bill it removes government involvement.

Reporting from the state Capitol I'm Becky May.