Washington House votes to raise hourly minimum wage to $12
Source: Associated Press
Updated 5:41 pm, Tuesday, March 3, 2015
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The Washington state House voted along party lines Tuesday to raise the state's minimum wage — already the nation's highest — to $12 an hour over the next four years.
The 51-46 vote sends to the Senate the bill to add a series of 50-cent increases to the $9.47 state hourly minimum wage. With Gov. Jay Inslee watching from the wings of the House, the bill drew extended debate in the Democratic-controlled chamber, and Democrats rejected a series of Republican amendments before voting to approve the bill.
The bill moves next to the Senate for consideration, where a companion bill did not get a committee hearing this legislative session. A coalition of mostly Republicans controls the Senate, and several have spoken critically of the effects a minimum-wage increase would have on the state.
Rep. Jessyn Farrell, D-Seattle, sponsored the House bill and said most workers who earn minimum wage now are adults and have a difficult time trying to stretch their pay to cover the expenses of maintaining a household. "If you work a hard day's work, day in and day out, week after week, you should be able to pay your own way," Farrell said.
Read more: http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Washington-state-House-to-vote-on-12-minimum-wage-6111806.php
= new reply since forum marked as read
