Business Lobby Targets Auto-Hikes To Minimum Wage
ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota's leading business group wants state lawmakers to scrap the new minimum wage law that allows for inflationary increases after the hourly rate reaches $9.50 in 2016.
Officials with the state Chamber of Commerce said Thursday it was a priority to get rid of a wage-escalator provision. The chamber's labor policy director, Ben Gerber, says the business lobby also wants to slow specified increases that will push the current $8-per-hour minimum wage up by $1.50 over the next two years.
But he acknowledges that is unlikely to prevail because Democrats still hold the Senate and governor's office. Republicans lead the House. So, the chamber will concentrate mainly on repealing the automatic inflator.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk says he doesn't sense Democratic senators have interest in revisiting the law.
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