House Republican Leader Matt Hall, R-Richland Township, on Wednesday issued the following statement after a Michigan Supreme Court ruling raised the minimum wage, including the elimination of the tip credit for servers, bartenders, and other workers who frequently make more with tips than they would with a higher minimum wage:

“The Legislature must return to the Capitol immediately, because this decision will completely disrupt the livelihoods of hard-working Michiganders. Restaurants and other small businesses will have to raise their prices, tipped workers will take home less pay, and some people will lose their jobs. The court has ruled, and now it’s time for the people’s representatives to take action.

“While Democrats are out on the campaign trail, servers and bartenders are still hard at work. But they might be on the unemployment line soon if Democrats don’t come back and help House Republicans save Michigan jobs.”

The Democrat-controlled House and Senate have not convened since June 27.

A recent survey found that 82% of Michigan restaurant servers wanted to keep the tipping system in place, and 79% worried about losing their job if the tip credit were eliminated. Meanwhile, another recent survey found that two-thirds of restaurant operators expected to lay off employees if the tip credit were eliminated, 94% would raise menu prices, and one in five full-service restaurants would close permanently.