Wage bills demonstrate lawmakers out of order

State legislators still trying to undercut the minimum wage law overwhelming passed by Arkansas voters

I’ve written opinion pieces before on the ridiculous bill proposals in the Legislature, and I will keep writing them until our representatives start working for the people of Arkansas instead of for their own self-interests. Sen. Bob Ballinger (R) wants to gut the minimum wage law that was passed by the voters of Arkansas in the last election. He now has amended the bill (HR 1752) to exempt young people (under 18), people with developmental disabilities, and those with any prior felony convictions. Seems to me those are the exact people who will have a hard time finding a job in the first place, so if they do manage to get one, they would not be eligible for the higher minimum wage, if his bill is passed.

Rep. Robin Lundstrum (R) introduced her own bill that also would exempt those with developmental disabilities and younger people as well. HR 1753 would exempt anyone under the age of 21 from receiving the higher minimum wage already approved by Arkansas voters. So, students in high school, taking on part-time jobs to help support their family, and trying to keep up with their grades so they can graduate would only be allowed the federal minimum wage of $7.25. That scenario would apply to both bills, but what makes 1753 even worse is the “under the age of 21” exemption, which would also apply to many first- and second-year college students. Everyone knows college tuition is almost unaffordable to most Arkansans these days. So, why would anyone want to handicap a college student who is trying to improve his or her quality of life by getting a post-secondary degree while working a minimum wage job?

The other thing about these bills that is despicable is that they also target people with developmental disabilities. Do Lundstrum and Ballinger think that people with disabilities should be paid less than other workers? People with developmental disabilities have worked hard all their lives to overcome them and live a normal life. They sometimes work harder than their co-workers because of this.

These are just two bills under consideration in our Legislature that are trying to undermine the will of the people. There are many more bills that favor special interest groups instead of the people of Arkansas that are either in committee or ready to go to the floor. As concerned citizens, we need to raise our voices to the arrogance of these lawmakers. It is obvious to me, and should be obvious to all of us, that several of our representatives are out of touch, out of order and need to be out of office. STEVEN TRULOCK Fayetteville