AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) — A bill that would have indexed Maine’s minimum hourly wage for inflation has been killed.
The House on Thursday voted to go along with the Senate and reject the bill for the year.
It would have adjusted Maine’s minimum wage based on changes in the federal Consumer Price Index for the Northeast. With passage, Maine would have joined the 10 other states that also index their minimums.
Maine’s $7.50 per hour minimum is now 25 cents higher than the federal standard.
Restaurant workers, low-income advocates and religious organizations supported the indexing bill, but business groups said it would discourage job growth and objected to automatic wage increases.
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