Governor Whitmer,
I am writing to you to strongly ask you to NOT sign Senate Bill 8. I am a Michigander that lives in Oregon. I pay more in state taxes to Michigan than I do to Oregon, so I feel I have a say about what values the state of Michigan is run on.
I attended Michigan public schools all the way through the University of Michigan. I intended to live the balance of my life in our fair state, but like many I had to leave in 1980 because of the lack of opportunity that existed when interest rates went to 20% and the automotive business cratered.
As fate would have it, I eventually bought a business in Troy and today we employ 60+ Michigan citizens, with a starting wage of $17 per hour for unskilled workers and the opportunity to raise it to $20 in several months after learning certain basic skills. Senate Bill 8 will have NO effect on my firm, whether you sign it or not.
Ten or so years ago Oregon went through a debate similar to the one raging around SB 8, with dire warnings from the restaurant industry and other low-wage employers. At that time, my special needs son, Max, was making $9 an hour working full time washing cars for Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Through him, I got to know his coworkers that did not have the financial backup that Max had from us. These law-abiding young high school grads were one step from homelessness and all had second jobs. They were always on the edge at the start of their working lives. There was no time or income for skills training or college for them.
Despite the predictions of dire economic damage, the state of Oregon established a minimum wage floor of $15 per hour, including tip workers, with inflation adjusters. The transition went smoothly, and the unemployment rate went unchanged. When Max died unexpectedly in 2021, he was making $17 per hour after 9 years of employment. He could support himself, make his car and rent payments, and had a few nickels left over.
Governor Whitmer, you and I both know there are tens of thousands of Michiganders like Max and his coworkers that would benefit from leaving the $15 minimum wage ruling in place. It will provide a floor income for family breadwinners and opportunity for training like Max’s coworkers, which benefits the great state of Michigan that we all claim.
I strongly ask you to NOT sign SB 8. Down the road, you will look back and be proud you let a $15 living wage, including tip workers, become Michigan’s wage floor for everyone.
Respectfully yours,
Steve Chapman
Lake Oswego, OR