Lawmakers hear from local McDonald's owners

Olympia, Wash. — Just ahead of hearings on a higher minimum wage, state lawmakers are hearing from the people who own your local McDonald's restaurants. In a letter to lawmakers, they said McDonald's employs more than 15,000 people in Washington State, and many make just above the statewide minimum wage of $15 an hour. Democrats in the House are proposing to raise the statewide minimum wage to $12 dollars an hour over three years.
       
In a letter to lawmakers, local owners say they pay more than $148 million in wages and more than $20 million in taxes.
 
State Sen. John Braun said there needs to be a thorough discussion of any potential minimum wage increase. "I think it's important we listen to them, they inform our thinking that one of the inputs," the Centralia Republican said.
 
Tumwater Democrat Chris Reykdal supports raising the statewide minimum wage. "Oh you know they are going to look out for their interests," he said of McDonald's franchisees. I really respect that." Reykdal supports the plan to raise the statewide minimum wage. He expects a packed house when it comes up for a hearing Tuesday. 

KIRO