Delaware Public Radio is reporting that Bushweller didn’t vote on minimum wage because he wants to trade his vote for Casino Welfare. What a dick.
Legislation hiking Delaware’s minimum wage failed in state Senate Tuesday by one vote. But passing tax relief for casinos could revive the bill’s prospects.
Legislation sponsored by Democratic State Sen. Robert Marshall would raise the state’s minimum wage from $8.25 an hour to $8.75 an hour starting this fall and take it to $9.25 in October 2019.
But because every Republican senator opposed the bill, Marshall needed every Democratic vote and Dover-area State Sen. Brian Bushweller choose not to vote.
Bushweller, a longtime champion for the casino industry, said it’s unfair for the state to take 43 percent of the revenue the three casinos generate. Increasing the minimum wage on top of that could drive a casino out of business. So he said he’ll trade his vote on the minimum wage for casino tax relief.