Bills to increase minimum wages fail in House committee

SALT LAKE CITY — Despite backers saying raising the minimum wage is another tool to combat poverty and homelessness, two bills to raise worker pay failed in the House Business and Labor Committee.Rep. Brian King, D-Salt Lake City, sponsored HB117, which would have increased the minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.25 this year and then to $12 in 2022, and HB118 to raise the minimum wage for tipped employees to $3.25. It is currently $2.13.The last time Utah's general minimum wage increased was t