Hodges thrusts minimum wage debate into 2017 Minneapolis mayor's race

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Hodges thrusts minimum wage debate into 2017 Minneapolis mayor's race

By Adam Belz Star Tribune DECEMBER 21, 2016 — 9:26AM

Critics say Hodges' reversal on minimum wage is all about the 2017 election.

Minneapolis Mayor Betsy Hodges' sudden support for raising the city's minimum wage has thrust the issue into the center of the 2017 mayor's race, with her reversal drawing sharp criticism from those vying to replace her.

Hodges issued a statement late Monday saying she backs an unspecified municipal wage and opposes any exception for tipped employees. She had previously said she preferred a regional minimum wage.

But with mayoral candidate Nekima Levy-Pounds demanding a $15 wage and Council Member Jacob Frey mulling a run for mayor, Hodges announced that she favors a Minneapolis wage hike, and called any provision exempting tipped employees from it a "harmful precedent."

The move was greeted with qualified praise from advocates on the left and drew criticism from the restaurant industry, but the next few months will test the mayor's influence with the key players: the 13-member City Council that will decide on the matter...

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http://www.startribune.com/hodges-thrusts-minimum-wage-debate-into-2017-minneapolis-mayor-s-race/407685526/