Maine Legislature Considering Lowering State’s Minimum Wage
Despite voters in Maine approving a minimum wage hike for workers across the state, a Republican in the State Senate, Joel Stetkis, has introduced a bill that would actually rollback Maine's minimum wage from $10 per hour to $9.50.
According to the Sun Journal, lawmakers will consider the bill proposal today in their legislative meetings. Stetkis also includes some other alterations in his proposal. He wants to create a youth minimum wage for teenage workers as well as a training minimum wage for young workers between 18-20 that would save businesses some money.
Another key part of the bill from Stetkis would eliminate cost-of-living increases to the minimum wage over time.
What comes into question as lawmakers consider the bill is why, less than two years after the Maine public voted in the increases to the minimum wage, is the legislature considering undoing the will of the voters?