Maryland Raises The Minimum Wage
February 13, 2006
The Maryland legislature has passed legislation raising the State's minimum wage by $1 an hour, to $6.15 per hour, and $1 an hour higher than the federal minimum wage. Through a vote of 30-17, the State Senate joined the Maryland House of Delegates in voting to override Gov. Erlich's veto of the legislation. The increase goes into effect on Thursday, February 16. Analysts estimate that the increase will affect more than 50,000 low-wage earners in the State.
Maryland thus joins 17 other states and the District of Columbia in enacting a minimum wage that is higher than the federal rate. The minimum wage in the District remains $7.00 per hour.
Similar legislation was introduced into the Virginia General Assembly last month.
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