North Michigan News

LANSING, Mich. — Sen. John Damoose on Wednesday called for the Legislature to immediately address concerns raised by small businesses and tipped workers following the Michigan Supreme Court’s “adopt and amend” ruling.

“The recent ruling brought to light some justifiable concerns from workers, specifically from Michigan’s massive hospitality industry, that I think we need to take to heart,” said Damoose, R-Harbor Springs. “Many workers and small business owners have clearly outlined the threat this decision poses to their livelihoods — which is especially stressful at a time when people can barely afford to get by as it is.”

Earlier this month, the Michigan Supreme Court struck down the Legislature’s amended version of a petition-led reform from 2018, including an exemption of the state’s new minimum wage laws for tipped workers throughout the state’s hospitality industry. After the court’s ruling, a number of business owners have said they will have to face raising prices or closing their doors, and workers within the industry have voiced concerns that this decision will lead to a reduction in their overall take-home pay or worse yet, losing their jobs.

Damoose, who currently serves as co-chair of the newly created Legislative Hospitality and Tourism Caucus, stressed the importance of the hospitality industry both to his district, which spans the northern Lower Peninsula and eastern Upper Peninsula, as well as the state’s economy as a whole. The senator said he hopes legislative leadership will discuss how they can solve this issue in a timely manner and alleviate people’s concerns about their futures before new laws take effect in February.

“We were elected to solve issues brought forward by those who sent us to the state Capitol, and this is a textbook opportunity for us to listen to people’s concerns and do something about them,” Damoose said. “I know it’s not just my office that’s getting these calls and hearing from people about what this will mean for them and their families. People are rightfully concerned about whether or not they will have a paycheck if these laws take effect as is. We need to take this seriously and find a real solution — and do so quickly.”