Senate Bill (SB) 221, titled "An Act Concerning Gratuities as Part of the Minimum Fair Wage, put forth to the state of Connecticut, is to raise the minimum wage for waitresses and the like to be $15.69.

Aside from reading this bill, which is very hard to follow in writing, the Connecticut Restaurant Association interviewed 400 people in the business. Ninety-six% of them said they don't want this bill to pass — 96%; not 54%; not 60%. My chief complaint here is this: you have ELECTED officials who are supposed to be your voice doing the exact opposite. This only goes to show they do what they want to line their pockets and collect payroll taxes regardless of what you say.

People who work have said this will hurt them and make customers tip less, and therefore they will make less money. You think that changes anything for the state of Connecticut? Absolutely not. They get their money no matter what. These are people who work for YOU doing what THEY want and not what YOU want. It just goes to show how much your voice matters, because it doesn't. Time and time again our government has demonstrated this; and we all sit back and do nothing. Amazing.

Joseph Rogulski

Uncasville