Minnesota Legislators Look to Increase State Minimum-Wage

In his State Of The Union address, President Obama called for a raise in the federal minimum wage to $9 an hour.  Minnesota's minimum wage is currently $6.15, which is less than the federal minimum, and state legislators look to change that.

StarTribune.com is reporting that Governor Mark Dayton, House Speaker Paul Thissen and Senate Majority Leader Tom Bakk all say it is time for Minnesota to lift the minimum wage.

House Rep. Melissa Hortman, DFL-Brooklyn Park, and Sen. David Tomassoni, DFL-Chisholm, on Wednesday introduced a bill that would raise the state's minimum wage to $9.50 an hour and index it to inflation. That bill has drawn the support of House Majority Leader Erin Murphy, DFL-St. Paul, and a host of other DFL committee chairs, though critics say the bill could threaten a still-fragile economic recovery by making workers unaffordable.

While it may not make it to $9.50 an hour, most agree that Minnesota is due for an increase in minimum wage and state leaders must agree on what that amount will ultimately be.

What do you think the minimum wage should be?