Rukavina in the Fight for Minimum Wage Hike

Rep. Tom Rukavina of District 5 is the House author of legislation that if passed, would raise the minimum wage in Minnesota. Gov. Tim Pawlenty has threatened to veto the bill if proposed in its current form. Labor and Industry Commissioner Steve Sviggum says Pawlenty wants a lower wage for workers who make tips and a different training wage provision. He also said the governor thinks the overall wage hike will be too high above the federal standard when phased in by June 2009, when it will be 50 cents higher than the new federal standard 7 dollars and 25 cents an hour.

Rep. Rukavina was interviewed by KFAI's Nancy Sartor on May 7