Christine Owens, Executive Director of the National Employment Law Project stated: “While this bill is a major victory for Vermont’s lowest paid workers, it’s also an important reminder for Congress of the pressing need to insure that all Americans are paid a decent wage, particularly as new jobs remain concentrated in low paying industries like fast food and retail.” The Federal minimum wage is at $7.25.
Other states are moving forward to follow this lead. Connecticut, Maryland and Hawaii are raising the minimum wage to $10.10. Minnesota, West Virginia and Delaware are pressing their legislators to take action on the wage front.
Some businesses are raising the minimum wage on their own. The Gap has raised it to $10.00 per hour.
Republicans in Congress who voted against raising the minimum wage argue that it will create job losses. However, the most rigorous studies in the past 20 years show that raising the minimum wage actually boosts worker pay without creating job losses.
The Center for Economic and Policy Research also reviewed the past two decades of research and found that raising the minimum wage had no adverse impact on employment.