On the heels of yet another raise to the nation's highest minimum wage rate,  House Bill 2672 would set in motion a gradual increase of the wage offered entry-level and unskilled workers to $12 by the year 2017.

Based on initial responses, it's already a foregone conclusion in the Democrat-controlled state House. The real issue will come when it's time to count votes.

It is supported by labor unions and several special interest groups. Most of the momentum comes from a group of progressive Seattle-area legislators who already have tried to push for a $15 minimum wage in that city.

Currently the bill has 32 legislative sponsors. It takes at least 50 members of the House to pass a bill. As smartly pointed out by washingtonstatewire.com, it will remain to be seen if another 18 Democratic legislators outside of Seattle's urban districts are willing to sign off on a bill that will ultimately impact small businesses in their communities.

Bill sponsor Jessyn Ferrell, a Democrat who represents a district inside the City of Seattle, claims this bill will help erase what she called "income inequality."  That brought a sharp retort from the other side of the aisle, according to washingtonstatewire.com:

Rep. Matt Manweller, R-Ellensburg said, ' If a high minimum wage reduces income inequality, and Washington already has the highest minimum wage in the country, then why doesn’t Washington have the narrowest gap between rich and poor? For the record, Washington ranks 16th according to U.S. Census Bureau data.'"

But even if the bill passes the House, it will probably never make it past the Republican-controlled Senate. GOP Commerce and Labor Chairwoman Jenea Holmquist-Newbry of Moses Lake only promises a hearing on the matter to point out the impact on business and job creation. Most observers say any such bill will be soundly defeated in the Senate.

The Washington Retail Association has yet to issue a formal "statement" on the bill, but reminds its members a similar bill died in the legislature last year, and we already have the highest minimum wage in the U.S. at $9.47 per-hour.

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