Posted on 11/22/2013 6:26:09 PM PST by matt04
The Massachusetts Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to raise the state's minimum wage from $8 an hour to $11 an hour over three years, giving a boost to nearly 600,000 workers and putting the state on track for the highest such pay in the nation.
The Senate voted 32-7 to approve the increase.
Under the bill, amended during debate, the minimum wage would increase to $9 an hour on July 1, $10 an hour on July 1, 2015, and $11 an hour starting July 1, 2016. The minimum wage in Massachusetts last increased to $8 an hour in January 2008.
In the shadow of a looming 2014 ballot question on the minimum wage, the Senate also voted 31-7 to increase the wage for tipped employees to half the minimum wage. The tipped wage is currently $2.63 per hour.
One supporter, Sen. Mark C. Montigny, a New Bedford Democrat, said the bill might help close the growing gap between the rich and poor.
"Tens of thousands of people are working full time and living below the poverty level," Montigny said. "It is inexcusable."
The bill now moves to the state House of Representatives, which is unlikely to vote on a minimum wage bill until sometime next year.
The bill for the first time would index the state's minimum wage to inflation. Starting in 2016, the minimum wage would rise each year at the same rate as the consumer price index for the Northeast.
Supporters have said the increase is needed because some companies are making strong profits, but lower wage workers are falling behind.
Opponents, including some business leaders, said that an increase would hike costs for businesses and could prompt layoffs.
(Excerpt) Read more at masslive.com ...
No s*^%. In a few years they will be wondering why everything costs more and people are laid off or see hours slashed.
Look for massive layoffs for minimum wage employees ... stupid, stupid, stupid.
Probably not so many layoffs. Most likely just never getting jobs to begin with.
If $11.00 is good, why isn’t $110.00 ten times better. No liberal will answer that.
“The Massachusetts Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to raise the state’s minimum wage from $8 an hour to $11 an hour over three years,”
The Massachusetts Senate voted overwhelmingly Tuesday to bar entry level and many other low-skilled workers from employment.
I am thinking of Wyoming
Exactly. So there more likely to vote democratic(as if they did not do so already).
close the growing gap between the rich and poor, why not 150.00 an hr? so there will be no gap...
And look for massive wage increases for union labor -- whose contracts are often tied to some multiple of the minimum wage.
Stupid, stupid, stupid. But only if you're trying to improve the state's economy, instead of rewarding a political crony.
At least it's cheaper than CT gas prices.
Don’t worry. Once they legalize the new 30Million Democrat voters, they will import more Mexicans to work under the table at these jobs. The newly minted Democrats will be on welfare along with the rest of us.
FOOLS!!!
"Tens of thousands of people are working full time and living below the poverty level," Montigny said. "It is inexcusable."
No, fool. It means more won't be working full time and will be jobless...with an even wider gap between rich and poor.
As Rush says every few years: “why 11 dollars an hour?”. “Why not 25 or 30 dollars an hour?”
More and more of those jobs will be automated away.
The minimum wage law dates back to 1938.
218 representatives, 51 senators, and 1 president could repeal it.
“As Rush says every few years: “why 11 dollars an hour?”. “Why not 25 or 30 dollars an hour?””
Has anyone noticed if you go out for breakfast it’s $25+ for two people?
That’s on the cheap side. This inflation that can’t be mentioned is getting really expensive....../S
The libs continue to shoot themselves in the foot.
liberal cheapskates.
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