The key, he said, is to get the issue on the ballot, then start raising money to get it passed by voters. Lots of money.
”We figure it will take $300,000 to fund an initiative campaign,“ said Doug Mitchell, speaking Saturday at the Montana Human Rights Network's annual conference, ”Beyond Need: Campaigning for Economic Human Rights,“ at the University of Montana.
But he's willing to fight, and to work at getting a statewide network of small-business owners to support the initiative, he said.
”C'mon,“ said Mitchell, outlining what he'll tell business owners who balk. ”You can afford a buck. That's what you give the barista at Starbuck's for a tip.“
Mitchell and Steve Bullock, both of Helena, have paired up to form Raise Montana, a campaign to raise Montana's minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour. The initiative would include formulas for automatic cost-of-living increases.
Bullock is a lawyer who worked for Secretary of State Mike Cooney and Attorney General Joe Mazurek; Mitchell, who owns a government-affairs consulting company, worked for Cooney and for U.S. Sen. Max Baucus.
One dollar isn't enough, suggested some at the conference. Why not go for more, to make a real difference in the lives of minimum-wage workers, so often women with children, said Judy Smith, a longtime advocate for women in Missoula.
Raise Montana is still tinkering with the final per-hour increase, he said. A statewide poll, conducted by Montana State University-Billings, found that 81 percent of Montanans are willing to support a $1 an hour increase, but support falls off dramatically when a $2-an-hour increase is suggested, he said.
”If we go to $2, then you start to say ‘$2 is a 40-percent increase (from $5.15).' You can see the ads now.“
”You do what's possible rather than what's perfect,“ he said. ”We need to take this baby step before we figure out whether we can take another step. ... This is something we can do to help 27,000 people. You owe it to them to win, not just to stand up for something you believe in.“
A dozen groups have already agreed to work on the initiative. About 22,340 signatures are needed, in at least 34 of Montana's 100 legislative districts, he said. Signatures must be gathered by June to get the initiative on next fall's ballot.
”It isn't going to solve poverty,“ he said. ”But we think we can pass this. It just viscerally makes sense (to people).“
Reach reporter Mea Andrews at 523-5246 or mandrews@missoulian.com
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