Are there better solutions to help restaurants than cutting servers’ wages? Local advocates say yes

There’s a controversial bill intended to help struggling restaurants in Colorado by cutting server’s pay. That bill stalled out Tuesday morning. House Bill 1208 was supposed to get a second committee vote, but hours of testimony that stretched past 1 a.m. led the measure’s sponsor to ask that the vote be delayed at least a week.

Supporters are calling it the Restaurant Relief Act, saying it would bolster restaurant owners that have struggled to make ends meet, especially in recent years. However, the bill would do so at the expense of workers and their income.

The bill is sponsored by Democrats and backed by Governor Jared Polis. However, its provisions have greatly divided Democratic lawmakers and local leaders. Last week, we had proponents of the bill on the Morning Magazine. This morning, Boulder City Council member Dr. Nicole Speer joined KGNU’s Jackie Sedley in the studio to give a differing perspective.

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