Dayton: Don't Touch Minimum-Wage Law
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Gov. Mark Dayton says he sees no reason to hold off on two coming increases to Minnesota's minimum wage and he'll resist efforts to scrap a new mechanism allowing for inflationary bumps later.
Dayton said Monday he's not about to budge on the hourly minimum, which will climb in two steps from the current $8 to $9.50 by summer 2016. As part of a law passed last spring, the wage will automatically go up by an inflationary amount in future years unless an administration official blocks more increases.
The Minnesota Chamber of Commerce has made it a priority to eliminate the escalator clause. The influential business group's proposal could advance in the Republican-controlled House but would face a tougher time in the Democratic-led Senate.
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