2016 Maine Question 4

none Question 4: Citizen Initiative An Act to Raise the Minimum Wage 420,892 337,486 771,708 2016 Maine Question 4 results.svg county Yes #7D9CBB 60–70% 1px #AAAAAA solid #B6C8D9 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid No #DEDEBD 50–60% 1px #AAAAAA solid Maine Question 4, formally An Act to Raise the Minimum Wage,Maine Citizen's Guide to the Referendum Election https://www1.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/citizensguide2016.pdf live https://web.archive.org/web/20161018205450/https://www1.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/upcoming/citizensguide2016.pdf 2016-10-18 2016-10-15 State of Maine Office of the Secretary of State is a citizen-initiated referendum question that appeared on the Maine November 8, 2016 statewide ballot. It sought to increase Maine's minimum wage from $7.50 per hour to $12 an hour by 2020, as well as increasing the minimum wage for tipped employees gradually to the same level by 2024. It would also index increases after 2024 to inflation. As the Maine Legislature and Governor Paul LePage declined to enact the proposal as written, it appeared on the ballot along with elections for President of the United States, Maine's two U.S. House seats, the Legislature, other statewide ballot questions, and various local elections. Efforts to place a competing, more moderate proposal alongside the citizen-initiated bill were unsuccessful. The proposal was enacted by voters, with 55% in favor. The changes to the tip credit were later reversed by the Legislature. Background Efforts to increase Maine's $7.50 minimum wage have been stymied at the Maine State House by Republican Governor Paul LePage, who vetoed a proposal to increase the wage to $9.50 over three years in 2013.http://bangordailynews.com/2015/04/16/politics/referendum-launched-for-12-maine-minimum-wage-by-2020/ Referendum launched for $12 Maine minimum wage by 2020 16 April 2015 Legislative Republicans sustained the veto, despite indications an increase has broad support from Mainers. One poll indicated that support for raising the federal minimum wage was at 75% of Mainers, including 59% of Republicans.http://www.pressherald.com/2014/09/29/increase-in-minimum-wage-favored-in-maine-poll/ Increase in minimum wage favored in Maine poll 29 September 2014 Campaign The Maine AFL–CIO and Maine People's Alliance launched a petition drive on April 16, 2015, seeking to collect upwards of the roughly 60,000 signatures needed to place a question on the ballot. The Maine Secretary of State's Office announced on February 16, 2016, that organizers had submitted over 75,000 valid signatures to place the question on the ballot. The bill went before the Legislature, which could have passed it and sent it to Governor LePage for his signature or rejection, or simply allowed it to go to the ballot. It also could have placed its own measure dealing with the minimum wage alongside the proposal as a competing measure. Business groups, including the Retail Association of Maine and the Maine Chamber of Commerce, considered a competing proposal to put before the Legislature to place on the ballot. The Chamber cited national polling indicating 6 in 10 Americans support a $12 per hour wage an indication that the referendum would likely pass, and is seeking to mitigate what it sees as harm to businesses.http://news.mpbn.net/post/business-coalition-drafting-competing-minimum-wage-measure Business Coalition Drafting Competing Minimum Wage Measure 25 February 2016 Competing measures The Bangor Chamber of Commerce announced their competing proposal on February 26, which is to raise the minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2020, starting with a $1 increase and then 50¢ a year thereafter until reaching $10. It would also maintain the tip credit towards the minimum wage, unlike the referendum. State Rep. Stacey Guerin (R-Glenburn) said she would sponsor the bill.http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/26/politics/state-house/bangor-chamber-backs-10-statewide-minimum-wage-alternative/ Bangor Chamber backs $10 statewide minimum wage alternative Bangor Daily News 26 February 2016 Gov. LePage announced that he would support the competing proposal as he viewed it as less harmful to businesses, largely due to maintaining the tip credit.LePage Backs Alternative Minimum Wage Proposal MPBN March 1, 2016 http://news.mpbn.net/post/lepage-backs-alternative-minimum-wage-proposal#stream/0 March 1, 2016 March 2, 2016 https://web.archive.org/web/20160302105600/http://news.mpbn.net/post/lepage-backs-alternative-minimum-wage-proposal#stream/0 dead The idea of a competing proposal does not have universal support among opponents of the referendum, with some like State Rep. Heather Sirocki (R-Scarborough) stating that they oppose any increase in the minimum wage and would rather focus on defeating the referendum than passing a more moderate proposal. House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe also indicated a more moderate proposal would face difficulty in the House, stating that "we had this opportunity last year" and that it was now too late for a compromise.http://bangordailynews.com/2016/02/25/politics/maine-business-groups-pitch-smaller-wage-hike-to-gop-lawmakers/ Maine business groups pitch smaller wage hike to GOP lawmakers 25 February 2016 One attempt by House Republicans to place a competing measure on the ballot was rejected by a 78–67 vote. The GOP-led Senate was able to vote on the proposal but without House support the effort failed.House Democrats reject competing Maine minimum wage effort Bangor Daily News March 24, 2016 http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2016/03/24/house-democrats-reject-competing-maine-minimum-wage-effort/ March 24, 2016 Competing proposals with citizen initiatives are rare in Maine. The previous one was in 2003. One in 1996, involving forest clearcutting, generated significant confusion for voters. Minority House Republicans have said they will oppose efforts to allocate a $55 million revenue surplus to certain programs and the budget stabilization fund(also known as the rainy day fund) unless Democrats agree to permit the competing proposal to go to the ballot.Maine GOP: No new spending unless lower wage hike option makes ballot Bangor Daily News March 30, 2016 http://bangordailynews.com/2016/03/30/politics/state-house/maine-gop-no-new-spending-unless-lower-wage-hike-option-makes-ballot/ April 5, 2016 Governor LePage has also stated he will not consider any additional spending unless a competing measure is placed on the ballot. He submitted his own proposal for one on April 5, 2016, at the request of Senate Majority Leader Andre Cushing, which is similar to others that were already rejected by the House. LePage has claimed an increase will hurt elderly Social Security recipients and young people, who would be unable to get jobs due to more experienced people being unemployed as a result of the wage increase. House Majority Leader Jeff McCabe stated that while he expects further attempts at a competing proposal, they would likely be rejected.LePage Submits His Own Competing Minimum Wage Measure MPBN April 5, 2016 http://news.mpbn.net/post/lepage-submits-his-own-competing-minimum-wage-measure April 5, 2016LePage: Republicans 'caving every time the Democrats ask them to' Bangor Daily News April 5, 2016 http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2016/04/05/lepage-republicans-caving-every-time-the-democrats-ask-them-to/ April 5, 2016 A last-ditch effort by Republicans to pass an emergency bill to immediately institute a gradual increase to a $10 minimum wage, starting with an increase to $9 on July 1, 2016, cleared the Senate by a 22–10 vote but failed to get the necessary 2/3 vote required to enact an emergency measure. Republicans stated that the bill, submitted by Governor LePage, was made an emergency measure to avoid being considered a competing measure that would be required to appear on the ballot.Last-minute minimum wage increase attempt by LePage falls short in Senate Bangor Daily News April 15, 2016 http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2016/04/14/last-minute-minimum-wage-increase-attempt-by-lepage-falls-short-in-senate/ April 15, 2016 Question wording On June 16, 2016, the Maine State Chamber of Commerce filed its objection to the proposed wording of the question that appears on the ballot. They criticized Secretary Dunlap for not including information about the indexing of the minimum wage to inflation after 2024 as well as the elimination of the tip credit. They proposed their own wording of the question which did contain those aspects of the question, which they claimed would be clearer and reflect the true intent of the referendum. Referendum supporters criticized the MSCC's proposed wording as "long, complex and byzantine", noting that Maine state statutes require referendum questions to be simple, concise, clear and direct. They called the proposal an effort to confuse voters.Innkeepers, Restaurant Owners Oppose Minimum Wage Ballot Question Wording MPBN June 16, 2016 http://www.mpbn.net/post/innkeepers-restaurant-owners-oppose-minimum-wage-ballot-question-wording#stream/0 June 16, 2016 Dunlap released the final wording of the question on June 23, which will read as "Do you want to raise the minimum hourly wage of $7.50 to $9 in 2017, with annual $1 increases up to $12 in 2020, and annual cost-of-living increases thereafter; and do you want to raise the direct wage for service workers who receive tips from half the minimum wage to $5 in 2017, with annual $1 increases until it reaches the adjusted minimum wage?"http://stateandcapitol.bangordailynews.com/2016/06/23/maine-secretary-of-state-revises-wording-of-all-five-november-ballot-questions/ Maine secretary of state revises wording of all five November ballot questions Bangor Daily News June 23, 2016 June 23, 2016 Notable endorsements Supporters John Baldacci, former governor of MaineBaldacci brothers to host minimum-wage event in Augusta Kennebec Journal April 29, 2016 http://www.centralmaine.com/2016/04/29/baldacci-brothers-to-host-minimum-wage-event-in-augusta/ April 29, 2016 Joe Baldacci, Bangor City councilor Maine AFL–CIO Maine People's Alliance MaineToday Media newspapers: Portland Press Herald, Kennebec Journal, Morning Sentinelhttp://www.centralmaine.com/.../our-opinion-vote-yes-on-question-4-to-raise-the- minimum-wage/ Equality Mainehttp://equalitymaine.org/election2016 Election 2016 EqualityMaine 2016-10-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20161004163304/http://equalitymaine.org/election2016 2016-10-04 dead Bangor Daily Newshttp://bangordailynews.com/2016/10/18/opinion/editorials/a-higher-minimum-wage-will-make-a-difference-for-those-who-work-hard-still-struggle/ A higher minimum wage will make a difference for those who work hard, still struggle 18 October 2016 Opponents Andre Cushing, Maine Senate assistant majority leader Paul LePage, Governor of MaineGov. Paul LePage turns awards lunch into political speech Lewiston Sun-Journal March 22, 2016 http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn-maine/2016/03/22/gov-paul-lepage-turns-awards-lunch-political-speech/1893675 March 24, 2016 Maine Heritage Policy Centerhttp://mainepolicy.org/unintended-consequences-how-the-minimum-wage-increase-in-question-4-would-kill-jobs/ Unintended Consequences: How the minimum wage increase in Question 4 would kill jobs 29 September 2016 Heather Sirocki, state representative (R-Scarborough) Ellsworth Americanhttp://www.ellsworthamerican.com/opinions/minimum-wage-increase-great-appeal-great-cost/ Minimum wage increase: Great appeal, great cost 22 September 2016 Polling Date of opinion pollConducted bySample size(likely voters)YesNoUndecidedMargin of error October 20–25, 2016http://www.pressherald.com/2016/10/31/margins-of-support-shrink-for-3-of-the-6-maine-ballot-issues-poll-indicates/ Leads shrink for 4 of the 6 Maine ballot issues, poll indicates Portland Press Herald 31 October 2016 University of New Hampshire 761 57% 35% 8% ±3.6% September 15–20, 2016http://www.pressherald.com/2016/09/28/poll-finds-six-out-of-10-mainers-back-12-minimum-wage-by-2020/ Poll shows 6 out of 10 Mainers back $12 minimum wage by 2020 Portland Press Herald 28 September 2016 University of New Hampshire 506 60% 12% 28% ±4.3% Results +Question 4 ResultsTabulations for Elections held in 2016 http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/results16-17.html#tally Bureau of Corporations, Elections & Commissions Maine Department of the Secretary of State 9 March 2017 26 January 2017 https://web.archive.org/web/20170126194830/http://www.maine.gov/sos/cec/elec/results/results16-17.html#tally dead County Yes Votes No VotesAndroscoggin50.9%28,79549.1%27,735Aroostook53.7%19,01046.3%16,378Cumberland61.2%106,32538.8%67,431Franklin51.9%8,74048.1%8,108Hancock55.4%18,03744.6%14,499Kennebec51.4%34,51948.6%32,589Knox60.4%14,16939.6%9,294Lincoln56.2%12,29743.8%9,567Oxford53.2%16,95746.8%14,919Penobscot46.9%38,24753.1%43,383Piscataquis45%4,21455%5,150Sagadahoc56.5%12,44643.5%9,588Somerset46.9%12,41453.1%14,036Waldo54.2%12,48445.8%10,532Washington54.1%9,05045.9%7,688York60.5%70,20339.5%45,840UOCAVA79.5%2,98520.5%769Total55.5%420,89245.5%337,486 Tip credit restoration After passage of the referendum, some restaurant servers were concerned that loss of the tip credit would mean they would actually get less money than they did with the tip credit, though such a view was not universal among those workers. Restaurant owners were also concerned that their costs would go up, forcing them to reduce hours for workers or raise menu prices.Maine's restaurant industry weighs in on minimum wage, 'tip credit' http://wgme.com/news/local/maines-restaurant-industry-weighs-in-on-minimum-wage-tip-credit WGME.com WGME 5 April 2017 20 March 2018 State Sen. Roger Katz stated that voters supporting the referendum did not intend to drive down wages for any group of workers.Maine Senate votes to change voter-approved wage law by restoring tip credit Portland Press Herald June 7, 2017 https://www.pressherald.com/2017/06/07/maine-senate-moves-towards-undoing-part-of-minimum-wage-law-passed-by-voters-last-fall/ March 20, 2018 A public hearing on a bill to restore the tip credit was one of the most heavily attended legislative hearings in all of 2017, with advocates on both sides of the issue testifying. The bill was passed by the Legislature and signed by Gov. LePage on June 27, 2017, to restore the tip credit, though the minimum wage itself was unchanged.LePage signs bill into law to restore tip credit Bangor Daily News June 27, 2017 https://bangordailynews.com/2017/06/27/politics/lepage-signs-bill-into-law-to-restore-maine-tip-credit/ March 20, 2018 References External links Mainers for Fair Wages, supporters of the initiative Maine State Chamber of Commerce, the primary group opposed to the initiative Category:Minimum wage law in the United States Category:2016 Maine ballot measures