Minimum Wage Increase Signed into Law
(Crystal A. Proxmire, May 28, 2014)
The Michigan House of Representatives approved an increase to the state’s minimum wage Tuesday, and the bill was signed into law shortly after by Governor Rick Snyder.
The bill will gradually increase minimum wage to $9.25 per hour by 2018, at a rate that is tied to the rate of inflation for Midwestern states. The bill received bipartisan support, with a 76-34 vote in the House and 24-12 vote in the Senate.
A petition drive, with more Democratic support, continues through the state seeking to put a proposal on the ballot to raise the wage to $10.10 per hour.
The bill that is passed has received both praise and criticism among Democrats. Some see it as successful compromise while others say it was only passed to undermine the petition drive aiming for a higher increase.
Democratic Party Chair Lon Johnson said he is “thrilled to see bipartisan support,” but added that “Republicans’ attempted underhanded tactics to block the ballot proposal from moving forward shouldn’t blur the fact that Democrats in the legislature won a substantial increase in the minimum wage today… Michigan families work hard and play by the rules, and giving them a raise by increasing the minimum wage shows that in Michigan, we value hard work.”
Governor Snyder praised those involved in the legislative process, stating “It’s great to see success like this in the Legislature. This was a great exercise in bipartisanship.”
Previous stories:
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/05/15/michigan-senate-votes-to-increase-minimum-wage/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/01/27/group-seeks-ballot-measure-to-increase-minimum-wage/
https://oaklandcounty115.com/2014/04/02/president-obama-visits-ann-arbor-to-promote-minimum-wage-increase/