ANNAPOLIS, Md. — There’s a new twist in the fight to increase Maryland’s minimum wage.
A new bill under consideration in the General Assembly would put the measure on the November 2026 ballot for voters to decide whether to increase the minimum wage to $20 an hour.
Bill proponents want the increase to apply to tipped workers, and they want to exempt tips from taxes.
At a news conference Thursday morning, tipped wait staff who said they’re struggling to pay bills said it’s not fair that their livelihood often depends on someone else’s mood.
“We, the workers here in Maryland, are struggling. Our wages simply don’t cover the cost of living,” said Kadija Shariff, a tipped worker. “The rising cost of living has become a full-blown crisis. Gas prices are out of control, rent is skyrocketing, and our electrical bills seem to increase every month for no reason at all.”
A coalition of labor, lawmakers and civil rights leaders rallied Thursday to support legislation that would phase in a $20 hourly minimum wage, end subminimum wages for tipped workers and exempt tips from taxation.
“A continuous wave of racism, sexism is integrating into how we pay people,” said Christina Nunez, the president of the National Organization for Women.
“The minimum wage is not enough to make ends meet the cost of living. All working people deserve to be able to earn enough when they work, to be able to feed their families and afford a place to live,” said the bill’s sponsor, Prince George’s County Delegate Adrian Boafo, D-District 23.
Tips and OT should be tax exempt
The minimum wage should be market driven, not legislated – the legislation puts companies out of business and causes the unemployment of the workers…highly documented already – dumbocrats don’t understand history!
Taxes on tips should never be collected or required – tips are a gratuity (gift) based on superior performance of duty! That’s how I give them!
Wes Moron wants more votes from the blacks
How about putting a real problem on the ballot
tips are not taxable
But the education system is broke and we are over taxed.
How about a ballot vote to defund the BOE – public education and issue vouchers to everyone.
What amount of money, either hourly or salary does one need for a ” living wage ? “.
Everybody spends and lives differently.
Maryland is one of the highest states to live in.
Salisbury and Ocean City has been listed as some of the some dangerest towns to live in.
Back to how much money.
$15.00 = $600.00 per week = $2600.00 a month = $31200.00 a year ( based on 40 hours a week )
$20.00 = $800.00 per week = $3466.00 a month = $41599.00 a year ( based on 40 hours a week )
Maryland: Average Salary – $44,820 / Annual. Based on 10000 salaries
The average salary in Maryland is $44,820 per year or $21.55 per hour. Entry level positions start at $32,422 per year while most experienced workers make up to $110,633 per year.
I guess gone are the days when a person would work a full time job and than get a part time job to ” make ends meet ” . Todays younger workers want a top salary but not have to work for it. They don’t want to start at the bottom of the ladder and work their way up.
As I told my daughter after she graduated from college. You might have to empty out somebodies else’s trash can before you get into a position where somebody empties out your trash can.
But no, she was one of those that was waving around her degree demanding a top salary with no job experience in her field of study.
As for me, I’m disabled. I get $3038 a month disability. ( Took a little over 2 years to get it )
$3038.00 = $36456 a year = $701.00 a week = $17.52 an hour ( if I worked a 40 hour week )
My wife makes about $38000 a year or $18.26 an hour.
My mortgage is $900.00 a month . I drive a 23 year old Buick and my wife drives a 14 year old Toyota.
It does take 2 salaries to survive these days.
We don’t live ” high on the hog “. Most of the times we are eating the trotters and beans. ( Damn tasty if you ask me )
We live within our means.