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Legislative News and Views - Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL)

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Rep. Fritz votes for minimum wage hike that will increase wages for over 350,000 Minnesotans

Friday, May 3, 2013

St. Paul, Minnesota—Today the House passed the Minimum Wage Bill, HF 92, on a 68 to 62 vote.  The bill will raise the minimum wage for large employers to $8.00 in 2013, $9.00 in 2014 and $9.50 in 2015 and raise the minimum wage for small employers to $7.00 in 2013, $8.00 in 2014 and $8.50 in 2015.  The minimum wage will automatically adjust to inflation starting in 2016, and will be capped at 2.5%.

“I am a strong supporter of raising the minimum wage,” said Rep. Patti Fritz (DFL-Faribault).  “This will raise wages for over 350,000 workers statewide and help them and their families to pay the bills.”

The bill also conforms to federal standards that define large employers as those making $500,000 or more and allow 12 weeks of birth or adoption leave.  An amendment was added during floor debate to ensure that future state reimbursement rates to senior care and other healthcare staff reflect the wage increase.

“There are some concerns surrounding the effect on nursing home workers by raising the minimum wage, but we will work them out.” said Rep. Fritz.  “People across all fields of work deserve to be paid a practical living wage.”

Raising the minimum wage to $9.50 will impact a large number of workers, including those who currently make slightly more than the minimum wage.  58% of Minnesota workers earning the minimum wage are between the ages of 20 and 64 and 15% are married.  In addition, half of Minnesota’s college graduates work in jobs requiring only a high school diploma.

“These workers are not just young people,” said Rep. Fritz.  “Many of these workers in district 24b have two jobs and are scraping by.  A family should be able to make a living off of hard work.” 

The state minimum wage was last raised in 2005 to $6.15 for large employers and $5.25 for small employers.  Rep. Fritz also supported this increase.  Most Minnesota workers currently make the federal minimum wage of $7.25 for large employers.

Rep. Fritz can be reached by phone at (651) 296-8237 or by email at rep.patti.fritz@house.mn.
 

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