Local lawmakers support raising federal minimum wage to $15
and last updated 2021-02-09 16:49:24-05
NORFOLK, Va. - Several local lawmakers support raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025. I think in America if you re working full time, you ought to be able to put food on the able and a roof over you re head. At $7.25 an hour, you can t do that, said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Virginia).
Right now, lawmakers are discussing raising the minimum wage, something Congress hasn t done since it was raised to $7.25 in 2009.
States have taken action on their own since then. Virginia is on a path to raise it gradually to $15 by 2026, so the federal proposal would get the state there faster. Minimum wage remains at $7.25 in North Carolina.
VA Lawmakers Consider Extending Rule For Alcohol To-Go
With indoor dining limited due to the pandemic, Virginia relaxed some of its strict laws on alcohol sales. Lawmakers are looking to extend options like cocktails to-go for another year as the restaurant industry limps along. (Photo: David Streever/VPM News)
During the pandemic, Virginia has allowed bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to-go or through delivery.
Some state lawmakers are now looking to extend that rule through the rest of the year, hoping it can help some small businesses stay afloat as the pandemic reaches new peaks. A bill from Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) would halt planned changes to alcohol licensing fees and allow businesses to sell beer and wine off-site through the end of 2021. If the bill is rejected by the General Assembly, some restaurants would have to get a separate permit to continue selling alcohol to-go.
By Roberto Roldan, VPM News
During the pandemic, Virginia has allowed bars and restaurants to sell alcohol to-go or through delivery.
Some state lawmakers are now looking to extend that rule through the rest of the year, hoping it can help some small businesses stay afloat as the pandemic reaches new peaks.
A bill from Delegate Schuyler VanValkenburg (D-Henrico) would halt planned changes to alcohol licensing fees and allow businesses to sell beer and wine off-site through the end of 2021. If the bill is rejected by the General Assembly, some restaurants would have to get a separate permit to continue selling alcohol to-go.
(The Center Square) â COVID-19-related safety restrictions on Virginia businesses will be in place indefinitely, a state regulatory board decided.
Despite efforts from the business community and some of the board members to include an expiration date, the Virginia Department of Labor and Industryâs Safety and Health Codes Board voted Wednesday to adopt permanent standards. The restrictions will stay in place until the board schedules a meeting to repeal them.
Over the two-day board discussion, board member Courtney Malveaux offered failed amendments to hold off permanent standards.
One failed amendment would have set a six-month expiration date on restrictions to force the board to meet again in June to decide whether to extend the restrictions, let them expire or adopt permanent standards. Another failed amendment would have postponed a vote for a 30-day period in which members of the public could provide input.