LANSING – After a year of pressuring the Republican-controlled House, Democratic Representatives today successfully raised Michigan's minimum wage to $7.40 an hour.
"We are finally showing our workers that we value what they do," said State Representative Gino H. Polidori (D-Dearborn). "Public pressure worked for our working families. No one should have to live below the poverty line when they go to work every day. Now workers will be able to spend their extra money in local businesses and make easier economic decisions."
The House today passed a plan to raise Michigan's minimum wage to $7.40 an hour by July 2008, up from the current $5.15 an hour, which is the federal rate passed in 1997 and has been unchanged since. The House vote followed unanimous Senate approval last week.
Since House Democrats announced a plan to raise the minimum wage last year, Republicans have repeatedly vowed to block any increase, including dismissing Gov. Jennifer Granholm's call in her State of the State address Jan. 25 to increase the minimum wage. Republicans also voted twice against Democratic plans to raise the minimum wage.[1]
A higher wage would help more than 400,000 people in Michigan – many of them the sole breadwinners of their families – and boost local economies. The value of the dollar is at its lowest since 1949. Michigan is now poised to become the 17th state plus the District of Columbia to have a minimum wage higher than the federal rate.