A bill in the state Legislature would boost Michigan’s minimum wage from $7.40 an hour to $10 an hour.
It was introduced just a day after President Obama called for a federal minimum wage increase in his State of the Union address.
Under the proposal, higher wages would be phased in until 2016. After that, the state’s minimum wage would be tied to inflation.
State Senator Bert Johnson (D-Detroit) says Michiganders can’t get by on $7.40 an hour.
“It’s time that we support workers, support women, support people who are just making it so they can make more,” said Johnson.
“I had no advanced notice of what the President would talk about in his speech yesterday, so I didn’t know this was going to be a priority of his,” he said. “I’m glad that his speech dovetails an introduction so important like this, because it really crystalizes the issue at not just a state level but also the federal level.”
The bill isn’t likely to get far in the Republican-controlled state Senate. Majority Leader Randy Richardville says he’s not on board.
“Wages and who is going to get what wage is best determined in the marketplace,” said Richardville.
The last time the state increased its minimum wage was in 2008.
