WPRO News and the Associated Press
Rhode Island lawmakers are considering raising the state’s minimum wage.
Rep. David Bennett has introduced a bill to raise it by $1.10 per hour, to $10.10 per hour, on Jan. 1, 2016.
“It stimulates the economy,” said Bennett.
“When people got more money in their pocket their gonna spend more money; it’s good for business and it’s tough to raise a family at nine dollars an hour.”
The Warwick Democrat successfully lobbied last year for a $1 raise, to $9 per hour; a hike that went into effect Jan. 1.The hike put Rhode Island on par with Massachusetts and 15 cents behind Connecticut and Vermont.
Senator Lou Raptakis, D-Coventry, attended Thursday’s hearing to introduce his own bill which would affix the minimum wage to the Consumer Price Index.
“We tie social security tot he CPI, why not allow the minimum wage to be tied to the CPI?” said Raptakis.
Raptakis said by using statistics released by the Department of Labor, the minimum wage would be set based on the health of the economy. Additionally, Raptakis’ plan would give businesses advanced warning of wage increases.
Gov. Gina Raimondo has said she favors a higher minimum wage.
