President Biden says he wants to help restaurants “get back on their feet” after COVID-19. But his recent proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and alter the payment model for tipped workers would do just the opposite. I would know. His preferred policy, which is already law in seven states, left me without a job.

I’ve worked in full-service restaurants for three decades, first in Indianapolis and then in Seattle. Waiting tables provided a stable income to support my son, go to school, and pursue my passion for theater. Working 20 to 25 hours per week, I earned more than many of my friends who worked 40-hour desk jobs.