As a former grocery store owner, Cunningham said he employed hundreds of teens. If the increase stays as is, it could mean fewer youths are hired.

“Sadly, this will be a job-killer for young people,” Cunningham said.

Cunningham said restaurant workers asked him to change the rules for tipped employees because they are worried there will be job losses in their industry if the rate hike went unchecked.

Sen. Lauren Arthur, D-Kansas City, said the debate over the minimum wage was over after the November election.

“We are changing what voters overwhelmingly showed up and voiced very loudly,” Arthur said. “I would argue they didn’t say they want to raise if for some and not for others.”

“Both sides of the aisle came out in support of this,” added Sen. Jill Schupp, D-Creve Coeur.

Sen. Scott Sifton, D-Affton, said the changes would have hurt him in two ways when he was working as a teenager. Not only would they have limited his ability to earn the full minimum wage, but as a restaurant worker, he would have faced a separate wage cut as an employee of a restaurant.