The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry is weighing whether it will appeal to the the state Supreme Court to intervene after a judge rejected its challenge to the new law that raises the state minimum wage.
Chamber spokesman Garrick Taylor said they remain concerned about the constitutionality of the voter-approved measure and are confident a newly-expanded high court will see it their way.
We still do have issues about a lack of a revenue stream being identified for the mandated uptick in wages, which is now hurting some of the providers to the developmentally disabled,” Taylor said.
The judge ruled on Wednesday that there were no constitutional violations, a decision hailed by backers of Proposition 206.
Attorney Jim Barton said nothing should stop the increase from taking effect next month.
“Plaintiffs don’t have any chances as we’ve seen in this lawsuit, and for that reason they’re not entitled to stop it from taking effect on Jan. 1,” Barton said.
That’s when Arizona’s minimum wage rises from $8.05 to $10 an hour.
As mandated overwhelmingly by voters last month, that rate increases to $12 an hour by 2020.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story has been modified to correct the spelling of Jim Barton's name.
