| In almost, but not quite, straight party line votes last week, the 122nd Legislature decided to increase the state’s minimum wage in two steps, from $6.50 to $6.75 an hour in October, and from $6.75 to $7 an hour a year later. One of the more interesting arguments for the increase came from Rep. Sean Faircloth (D-Bangor), who proclaimed that states with higher minimum wages have fared better economically than those still at the federal minimum of $5.15.
Faircloth was left with at least a little egg on his face — figuratively if not literally — when Rep. Lawrence Jacobsen (R-Waterboro) observed that the average income in Maine, where the minimum wage has exceed the federal standard for years, is $9,000 less than that of neighboring New Hampshire, where the minimum wage still is $5.15.
The vote in the House was 73-70, with two Republicans breaking from the party ranks to vote in favor, and one Democrat joining with Republicans on the losing side. In the Senate, 19 Democrats voted in favor and 15 Republicans were opposed.
Hancock County legislators marched in lockstep with their party. In the House, Democrats Theodore Koffman of Bar Harbor and Hannah Pingree of North Haven voted in favor and Republicans Leonard Bierman of Sorrento, Robert Crosthwaite of Ellsworth, Darren Hall of Holden and Kimberley Rosen of Bucksport were opposed. Rep. James Schatz (D-Blue Hill) was absent.
In the Senate, Democrat Dennis Damon of Trenton voted “yes” and Republicans Richard Rosen of Bucksport and Kevin Raye of Perry voted “no.”
Maine’s 30-year experiment with social engineering continues. |
