Minimum wage hike advocates rally at Capitol
Published 10:25 am Tuesday, February 25, 2014
ST. PAUL — A political coalition pushing for a minimum wage increase in Minnesota is rallying in the Capitol rotunda as the new legislative session gets underway.
House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk are scheduled to speak at the Tuesday event sponsored by the Raise the Wage Coalition. Democrats in control at the Legislature are likely to enact a minimum wage hike this session, but the amount is not yet decided.
The coalition wants the state’s current hourly minimum of $7.25 boosted to at least $9.50. That would give Minnesota among the highest state minimum wages in the country. Republicans warn it could make businesses cut jobs.
The minimum wage coalition is made up of faith, labor, non-profit, service-based and other community groups.