Rep. John Delaney Plans To Push For Minimum Wage Boost
GAITHERSBURG, Md. (AP) -- Rep. John Delaney is planning to push for a minimum wage increase in Maryland.
Delaney said Monday raising the minimum wage is one of the most direct ways of helping working families succeed while also improving Maryland's economy.
The congressman says 19 states have a higher minimum wage than Maryland, and many of them have a lower cost of living.
Maryland's current minimum wage is $7.25 an hour. An effort to raise the state's minimum wage to $10 an hour by 2015 failed to pass a Senate committee in this year's legislative session.
Supporters said low-wage workers are in desperate need of a raise and that higher wages would increase consumer spending.
But opponents said it would drive up employer costs to create higher prices for consumers and possible layoffs.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
