$2.13/hr

Speaking to reporters yesterday, Minnesota GOP candidate for governor Tom Emmer proposed cutting the minimum wage for service workers who receive tips, such as bartenders and waiters. In order to justify the cut, Emmer said that some of these employees earn “over $100,000 a year,” and even make more than the people who employ them.

So because a select few, undoubtedly at the super exclusive places these guys frequent, make $100,000 a year, and the owners aren't rich enough, they want to cut the minimum wage for the vast majority of bartenders, waiters, host staff, and busboys who are struggling just to get by to 2.13/hr. And while we're sure any place with sales at a level where the servers are making 100k in tips is not owned by people making less than the staff, if he wants to, Emmer should feel free to ask the owners about it when they come to visit with him at his usual table. Actually, given Emmer's public policy proposals, it's pretty clear they've already discussed it.