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 ...
Cheap SOBs! Who can live and support a family of 12 on $11 an hour? Why not $50 and hour and be done with it. Heck, at $50 per hour and we eliminate all other taxpayer “entitlements”.
Indexing is a cowards way for politicians to assure tax increases without having to publicly vote for them each time.
This bill has yet to go to the House in MA and it may well die there or experience big changes.
There is at least one brand of burger maker available, but I haven’t checked out the ROI compared to minimum wage. Take a look at http://momentummachines.com/
I- Hop has a new commercial out for the holidays. They are advertising with the Hobbit as their popular draw. They have the “hobbit hole breakfast “ as their offering. Hobbit hole? I kid you not. Is that the stupidest marketing formula?
No one uses that terminology to market.
Hey folks, come on down to Big Al’s diner for my Angus Hole lunch special, guaranteed to fill you up!
Yuck, who are these marketing nincompoops?
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