Sen. Klobuchar speaks during minimum wage forum

The state's senior Senator took part in a virtual roundtable Tuesday to discuss the "Raise the Wage Act" which would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to $15.

Katie lange.

And i'm george mallet.

First tonight: minnesota u?

"*s senator amy klobuchar is pushing for a plan to raise the federal minimum wage.

The state's senior senator took part in a virtual roundtable this afternoon discussing the "raise the wage act"... which would incrementally increase the federal minimum wage to 15?

"*dollars per hour by 2025 kimt news three's anthony monzon joins us live with what senator klobuchar had to say.

Anthony?

Well katie and george... the raise the wage act would also eliminate the federal sub?

"* minimum wage for tipped workers... which sits at 2?

"* dollars?

"*and?

"*13?

"* cents panelists who took part in today's conversation say that's not enough... and expressed support for raising the minimum wage to ensure workers thrive after the pandemic.

The organization one fair wage... which hosted the discussion... says 1?

"*in?

"*4 americans who lost their job because of covid?

"*19 were restaurant workers.

They add those in the industry who have stayed employed have taken on new health risks and responsibilitie s... like enforcing masking and social distancing rules.

All the while... one fair wage says 70 percent of tipped workers across the country report thier tip earnings are down 50?

"*to?

"* 75 percent.

Senato klobuchar says as lawmakers focus on life after the pandemic... they have a reponsibility "we can't just rest on getting through the pandemic, because if anything the pandemic has put a magnifying glass on what's the problem, and that is that there are a lot of people that don't have a fair shake.

And that of course includes our service workers and restaurant workers."

And minnesota is one of seven states that has already eliminated the sub?

"*minimum wage for tipped workers.

The president of one fair wage says data collected during the pandemic shows restuarant industries in most of those states experienced less of a decline in business compared to their counterparts across the nation.

Thank you anthony.

As lawmakers consider the "raise the wage act"... senate republicans have spoken out against a wage hike... arguing it would hurt