The fight continues, but the first round goes to proponents of expanding the minimum wage in the Nation’s Capital as DC voters this week passed Initiative 77. The voter petition eliminates the tipped wage (currently $3.33) within the District of Columbia and by 2026 ramps up tipped employee wages to the District minimum. Currently the minimum wage in DC is $12.50 per hour, but that is scheduled to rise to $15 an hour in 2020. Where it will be in 2026 is anybody’s guess! Notwithstanding, there is still a long road for the proponents to travel before the tipped wage is actually done away with. Initiative 77 now goes to the DC Council, where both the Mayor and a majority of city councilors opposed the ballot question. The Councilors can amend it, repeal it or adopt it, in which case it would then go to Congress for its deliberation. (Where Washington DC is a District and not a state, Congress has ultimate authority over many of its otherwise-municipal functions.) There is a 30-day congressional review window within which time, Congress could also amend or repeal the initiative, so stay tuned . . .