Senate Gives Final Passage to Minimum Wage Hike
by Christine Stuart | May 5, 2008 10:17 PM
Posted to Labor
The state Senate approved an increase in the minimum wage from $7.65 an hour to $8 an hour starting in January 2009 and $8.25 an hour in January 2010.
The 25-11 vote, which gives final passage to the bill, was mainly along party lines with the exception of two Republicans, Sen. Sam Caligiuri, R-Waterbury and Sen. Anthony Guglielmo, R-Stafford Springs.
Gov. M. Jodi Rell is still uncertain about whether she would sign it. Rell’s spokesman Adam Liegeot said in an emailed statement, “While the governor understands the needs of minimum wage workers, she does not want to take any action that will negatively impact businesses and jobs in Connecticut, especially during this troubled economy. Governor Rell will take her time and review this bill closely before deciding what action to take.”
Comments (2)
Posted by: Richard E. Hayber | May 12, 2008 6:33 AM
Thanks for keep us up to date on this issue. Governor Rell would be wrong not to sign this bill. Increasing the minimum wage would not hurt small businesses. It is gas prices and health care costs that are hurting small businesses. Employees are the most important part of any small business and they should not have to work two jobs to feed themselves and their families. Connecticut is way ahead of the Federal government on this issue and should stay their.
Posted by: Richard E. Hayber | May 12, 2008 6:37 AM
Governor Rell should sign this bill. Small business do not fail because of the minimum wage, they fail because of a poor economy generally. If the federal government thinks that $600 checks will jump start the national economy, imagine what increasing the wages of over 60,000 employees will do for our state's economy. Connecticut has always taken the lead on employee rights laws, including having one of the highest minimum wages in the country. Governor Rell should not reverse this trend.