Contact:
Krysta West
Communications Director
Senate Republican Office
(207) 287-1505
krysta.west@legislature.maine.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

AUGUSTA – After weeks of careful consideration and more than twelve hours of public comments, the Labor, Commerce, Research and Economic Development Committee (LCRED) today voted to support restoring the tip credit, passing LD 673 on a 11 OTP-AM – 2 ONTP vote.

“This is excellent news for servers and restaurant owners all across Maine,” said Sen. Roger Katz (R-Kennebec), sponsor of LD 673. “Of all the things going on in Augusta, the tip credit is one of the issues that I’ve heard the most about from constituents and restaurant owners in my district. As members of LCRED have heard, those working in the restaurant industry overwhelmingly favor the tip credit system that has allowed many Mainers to earn a very decent wage working in restaurants and bars for tips.”

“The restaurant industry has spoken and we have listened,” said Sen. Amy Volk (R-Cumberland), Chair of LCRED. “I’m very happy that members of the committee were able to come together to support this issue in a bipartisan manner.”

Susan Price Stephenson, owner of Pepino’s Mexican Restaurants and co-organizer of Restaurant Workers of Maine said, “As a grassroots group of unpaid workers and restaurant owners, we commend the committee for their support of our industry and Maine jobs.”

LD 673 will now go to the Senate for initial consideration.

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