I, like so many working people, watched with great interest as our state House recently passed bills to enact a raise in the minimum wage and paid sick days for employees to care for themselves or their family without the threat of losing a day’s wages or their job.

Cities and states across the country have done similar because working people support these common-sense first steps to rebuilding an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy few — even voters in conservative states like Arkansas and Nebraska.

One of our 30th District representatives, Carol Gregory, voted for these bills. Our other representative, Linda Kochmar, voted against the bills. I found it very curious, however, that she initially voted “yes” on the minimum wage measure then after a few seconds changed her vote to “no.” Was she initially planning to vote the way her constituents would want but then changed her mind, or was she told by her fellow Republicans caucus members to change her vote?

Regardless of the reason, now we know Rep. Kochmar isn’t standing with her working constituents on these issues.

Keith Himel, Federal Way