Rep. Cory Mason Reintroduces Bill to Raise State Minimum Wage

Rep. Cory Mason (D-Racine) is once again introducing a bill to raise the state minimum wage and index it to inflation. Since he was first elected in 2006, Mason has tried to get the bill into committee and made into law.

"Wisconsin's working families are struggling to keep up with rising costs," said Mason in a written statement. "Each year the cost of gas goes up, the cost of healthcare goes up, and the cost of groceries go up, but the typical family income stays the same. Raising the minimum wage is a small and long overdue step we can take to help lift working families out of poverty."

Mason's bill would raise the minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $7.60 per hour. At the current rate, a worker annually makes $15,000. Ten other states - Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Oregon, Vermont and Washington - index their minimum wage to inflation.

The Center for Wisconsin Strategy estimates over 300,000 Wisconsin families would benefit from a raise of the minimum wage. Further, getting Mason's bill passed could put another $108 million into the state economy each year.

"Increasing the minimum wage will put money in the pockets of more than 300,000 Wisconsin workers," stated Mason. "Low-wage workers spend most of what they earn in their community, so this increase in the minimum wage is also a tremendously effective way to grow Wisconsin's economy."

Mason is looking for a co-sponsor and hopes to introduce his bill in the next couple of weeks.

Do you think the minimum wage should go up and be indexed to inflation?