Speaker of the House Julie McCluskie, D-Dillon, and House Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge, released a joint statement on Monday condemning the distribution of flyers that negatively depict the sponsor of a controversial bill proposing a wage reduction for tipped workers.

House Bill 1208, sponsored by Denver Democratic Reps. Steven Woodrow and Alex Valdez and Sen. Judy Amabile, D-Denver, would allow cities whose minimum wages are higher than the state’s — that’s Denver, Edgewater, and Boulder — to impose a tip offset of the amount by which the local minimum wage exceeds the state’s plus $3.02. 

Denver restaurant workers would face a wage reduction of $4 an hour if the bill passes, according to a fiscal analysis. 

The bill has caused a rift between restaurant owners, who argue it’s needed in order to offset the rising costs associated with running their businesses, and workers, who say it unfairly reduces their wages and forces them to become even more reliant on unpredictable tips. 

McCluskie and Duran said they were “alarmed and disturbed” by the flyers, as well as what they called attacks on businesses who testified in support of the bill. 

The Colorado Working Families Party recently launched an online petition against the bill, calling it “an absurd and terrible idea.” Lists containing the names of restaurant owners who testified in support of the bill have been published online, with calls for boycotts and negative reviews. 

“We encourage Coloradans to testify on legislation to share their perspectives and expertise,” said McCluskie and Duran. “Targeting businesses or members of the public who participate in the legislative process threatens the very principles of democracy we all swore to uphold. These actions have a chilling effect on the public and on our legislative process. Creating a safe, welcoming environment for all to express opinions with us is part of our jobs. We expect everyone in this building, lawmakers and those who are supporting or opposing legislation, to be respectful of one another as we navigate through our disagreements. Making this shared commitment to how we engage will ultimately make Colorado a better place to live, work, and raise our families.”

Democratic leaders refused to provide Colorado Politics with a copy of the flyers.

House Bill 1208 is being heard by the House Finance Committee on March 3.