Kansas Democratic leaders announced their support on Wednesday for raising the state’s minimum wage to $15 per hour, following a proposal by Republican leaders to remove tips from taxable income. This announcement came after Kansas Senate President Ty Masterson and other GOP leaders introduced a plan to eliminate taxes on tips, aligning with President Trump’s “no tax on tips” initiative. Masterson also noted that Sen. Roger Marshall is co-leading a similar effort in Congress.

Masterson emphasized that tips, which are meant as a thank you for good service, should not be taxed, as it would ease the burden on service industry workers and benefit small businesses. He also mentioned that cost efficiencies found through the Kansas Committee on Government Efficiency could help cover the costs.

In contrast, Kansas Democratic leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly, Senate Minority Leader Dinah Sykes, and House Minority Leader Brandon Woodard, responded by advocating for a $15 minimum wage. They argued that the current $7.25 per hour wage is too low and that raising it would improve the financial situation for Kansans. While open to discussions about tips, they emphasized that raising the minimum wage is the most urgent issue.