It is expected to be very close when the Senate finally votes on a bill that would raise the minimum wage 50 cents, taking it to $7 in two steps over this year and next, with at least one Democratic senator planning to offer an amendment to the proposal.
Rep. Scott Cowger, D-Kennebec, said he is drafting an amendment that would allow employers to pay a short-term training wage below the minimum for unskilled workers.
“It would be a short-term wage for kids, 17 and under,” Cowger said, allowing employers to take the extra time to train somebody without any skills.
While Cowger said he “supports equal pay for equal work, it’s not equal work when they walk in the door without any training.”
Democratic Sen. John Nutting of Androscoggin said he was “ruminating” about a possible amendment and also on how he will vote on the minimum wage increase as proposed.
“It’s a tough vote for me,” Nutting said. “We’ve increased the minimum wage four years in a row now,” and he has supported those increases to put Maine in line with other New England states. “I need to talk to some other senators,” on both sides of the aisle, he said. “Realistically, maybe we need to do something.”
With Cowger and Nutting possibly on the fence, a vote on the bill would be very close and could go either way depending if the parties generally stick together. There are 19 Democrats and 16 Republicans in the Senate. The vote could come up Thursday.
Democratic leadership in the House had held onto the bill for five weeks until they had the votes last Wednesday, approving the bill 76 to 74.
It turned out three Democrats and two independents voted against the measure, but three Republicans voted in favor and one was absent. The vote was delayed Wednesday until one Democratic member arrived from a medical appointment. She was helped to her seat by a House clerk.
The House is narrowly divided with 74 Democrats, 73 Republicans, 1 Green and 3 Unenrolled.
Arguments on the House floor were passionate, and most centered on what impact raising the minimum wage would have on the state’s poor.
Rep. Hannah Pingree, D-North Haven, said the minimum wage – currently at $6.50 an hour – “primarily affects women, and it’s a lot of single mothers.” She said it would make a difference in their lives.
Rep. Kenneth Lindell, R-Frankfort, countered, “this minimum wage increase will hurt the poor,” because businesses will have to cut training-level positions and health-care benefits to fund it.
Green Party member, John Eder of Portland, called the increase to $7 “pathetic,” and said “we should be talking about a liveable wage,” adding, “of course, I’m going to vote for it.”
Republicans, who voted for the increase, said their constituents wanted them to.
Rep. Kevin Glynn, R-South Portland, said he represents the Maine Mall area and workers there would be affected by the hike.
“It’s something voters in my district said they supported,” Glynn said. “I don’t vote party; I vote what they want.”
The bill would increase the current minimum wage of $6.50 to $6.75 this October and then to $7 in October of 2007. The wage just went up to $6.50 in October of 2005 after the last Legislature passed a similar two-step increase, which took it to $6.35 in October of 2004 and to $6.50 last fall.
The federal wage currently is at $5.15 and hasn’t been raised since 1997. Maine is among 17 states and the District of Columbia that have opted to raise their wage above the federal minimum.
Rep. Brian Duprey, R-Hampden, who voted against the increase, warned that at $7 an hour, Maine would have the fifth-highest minimum wage in the country and “the highest minimum wage as a percentage of per capita income.”
Voting against their party’s stand and in favor of the bill on the Republican side were Glynn, Rep. James Campbell of Newfield and Rep. Gary Moore of Standish. Democrats voting against the increase were Rep. Janet Mills of Farmington, Rep. Stan Moody of Manchester and Rep. Ed Dugay of Cherryfield. Independents Rep. Dick Woodbury of Yarmouth and Rep. Tom Saviello of Wilton also voted against the bill.
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