D.C. Council Approves Several New Bills

The D.C. Council on Tuesday honored the NHL champion Washington Capitals before getting down to business and tackling a slew of legislative issues that had most watchers refer to the meeting as a red-letter day.
And although it wasn’t on the agenda, many council members again expressed opposition to Initiative 77, which voters approved earlier in June by a 55 percent to 45 percent margin.
The initiative would raise the minimum wage for tipped employees from $3.33 per hour to $15 per hour by 2026. Mayor Muriel Bowser has also expressed opposition to the initiative because city officials fear that it will result in higher costs at restaurants and a loss of jobs.
Council and the mayor must approve it and the law is also subjected to a 30-day congressional review.