Yakima Chamber Members Against Higher Wage

Greater Yakima Chamber of Commerce members who recently participated in a survey say they're against an increase in the state's minimum wage from $9.47 to as much as $15 an hour. Chamber of Commerce CEO Verlynn Best says the survey involved 400 members and found that a lot of business owners say an increase in the wage could raise prices and possibly close businesses. "There's an economic impact here. They think it's warm and fuzzy and that everyone is making $15 an hour but they don't understand the economics about it. The minimum wage was never meant to be a living wage." Best says there's a possibility that issue could end up on a statewide ballot in 2015. She says if it's passed the impact will be big to Central Washington businesses and employees.