This could drive our GOTV for the election, just like the Repubs used gay marriage!
Workers to get 44% bump in pay (Dems threaten Constit Amendment)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2158049Workers to get 44% bump in pay
$7.40 minimum passes Michigan Senate to surprise, praise
BY DAWSON BELL
FREE PRESS STAFF WRITER
March 10, 2006
LANSING -- Michigan would have one of the nation's most generous minimum wage laws under legislation that came out of nowhere Thursday and appears headed straight for Gov. Jennifer Granholm, who said she'll sign it.
The state Senate approved the measure unanimously Thursday morning, authorizing a 44% boost over the next two years from $5.15 an hour to $7.40 in July 2008. Most of the increase would come Oct. 1 this year, when the base wage would jump to $6.95 an hour.
Majority Republicans in the Senate surprised supporters and opponents of the wage hike when they proposed -- without advance notice -- the increase, and quickly brought it up for a vote.
Several business groups long opposed to hikes in the minimum wage expressed tentative support, saying it was better than a proposal from Democrats to put the issue before voters as a state constitutional amendment.