Germantown Lawmaker Wants to Raise Maryland’s Minimum Wage to $10
Legislation would raise Maryland’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 by 2015
A campaign has been launched to gradually raise Maryland’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $10 by 2015.
Maryland Sen. Rob Garagiola, a Democrat from a Germantown, and Prince George’s County lawmaker Del. Aisha N. Braveboy are co-sponsoring legislation and held a rally Tuesday in Annapolis to garner support.
The legislation will be introduced in the next two weeks, Garagiola said in a statement released to media.
“Maryland workers are in desperate need of a raise,” Garagiola said in the emailed statement. “Our people are working harder but aren’t earning more, and it’s time to give a much needed boost to our economy. Raising the minimum wage would not only put more money in the pockets of these workers but also increase business activity in our state.”
The campaign—Raise Maryland—has reportedly gained backing from union leaders, Democrat groups, and other community groups such as the NAACP andCASA de Maryland.
How it Would Work
Under the proposal, Maryland's minimum wage would be increased in three increments—to $8.25 in 2013; $9 in 2014; and $10 in 2015—and would be "indexed" in 2016 to keep up with increases in the cost of living.
The minimum wage would also increase for tipped workers, such as waitresses, carwash attendants and nail salon workers, from 50 percent of the minimum wage to 70 percent.
Maryland’s rate is the same as the federal rate, at $7.25. But 19 states have set higher minimum wage rates, according to federal data. Washington State offers the top rate, at $9.19.
Minimum wages are not required in five states, federal data show.
Locally, minimum-wage workers in Washington, DC earn a dollar more than their cohorts in Maryland and Virginia, which also has a minimum wage of $7.25.
Maryland's minimum wage was last increased in 2005, according to Garagiola.
Raise the Rate Part Two?
There was an unsuccessful attempt to enact similar legislation in 2011.
At the time, Garagiola reportedly told state politics blog MarylandReporter.com that a wage hike would help the state’s economy and re-center the distribution of wealth:
“The argument is very strong that we need to raise it from the level we’re at today,” Garagiola said. “We’ve seen over the last several decades a growing disparity between high-wage earners and low-wage earners.”
Garagiola had gained the backing of 14 other senators, state legislative records show.
But business owners quoted in the same MarylandReporter.com account complained that raising the minimum wage would mean having to cut employees' hours or worse—having to let workers go.
Fran Asbeck
7:23 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Let's raise it to $15, and right now. Who can live on $10 an hour f'cryin'outloud?
Don O'Neill
8:42 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Bob,
Beyond the increase in minimum wage you advocate, where do you stand on Gov. O'Malley's insistence on requiring union labor for all state expenditures?
He made this clear in the December 19, 2012 Board of Public Works meeting where I spoke in opposition to the South Valley Park bond bill application, a bond bill you signed onto.
Inquiries to the Montgomery Village EVP reveal a flagging commitment to union labor on the design and construction of the South Valley Park Restroom and Concession stand.
I await a response from Alvin Collins head of the Department of General Services on whether bills submitted to his office for non union labor will qualify for reimbursement against the $125,000 state grant awarded for the project.
Please tell us where do you stand on this and why.
Robin Ficker
9:43 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Why did Senator Garagiola vote to traansfer the state teaacher pension costs to Montgomery County? Why did he vote for the recent large state income tax increase, of which 40% of the state-wide costs will be paid by Montgomery County residents? Why is he supporting for Senator Miller's call for a new 3% state sales tax on gasoline?
jag
10:17 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Why are you pretending the article is about any of these issues?
David Bross
6:59 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Still, Mr. Ficker makes a good point. And this is from a strong supporter of Sen. Garagiola!
Pete Claey
9:54 am on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Well that looks like two peas in a pod responding above. Neither one of them seems to know how to support anything.
Bob Hydorn
1:35 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Jag, I would ask your question of both Robin Ficker and Don O'Neill. Why are you pretending the article is about any of these issues?
Don O'Neill
9:36 am on Saturday, February 2, 2013
Bob,
This discussion on minimum wage is above you pay grade. Are you serving as Rob Garagiola's mouthpiece?
In a democracy, ideas are like flood water; they create their own path... unless someone tries to block them. For best results, go with the flow.
By not engaging in the discussion blog he started, Rob Garagiola may think he is on high ground, high and dry. But in a democracy, reluctance to engage is actually the low road.
Don O'Neill
3:17 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
For those that don't see the connection between increasing minimum wage and insisting on union labor for state funded projects, these are both trends in the continuum of socialism.
Rob Garagiola has already pegged his public support for an increase in minimum wage. Gov. O'Malley has moved a step further on the continuum in pegging his public expectation for union labor on state funded projects.
The question for Rob Garagiola, do you stand with the Governor on union labor on state funded projects... or do you fall short?
The question for Bob Hydorm, do you stand with the Governor on union labor on state funded projects? More specifically, will you insist on using union labor for the design and construction of the South Valley Park Restroom and Concession stand as a condition for collecting $125,000 in state reimbursement for the project... or will you ask the residents of Montgomery Village to pay the full $250,000 cost of the project?
Walt
3:35 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
His last name is spelled "Hydorn" not "Hydorm"
For someone who is such a stickler for spelling you should have gotten it right.
Robin Ficker
4:55 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
It is disingenuous for a legislator to want to raise the min. wage after voting to both the regressive sales and gasoline taxes 20 percent each.
Robin Ficker
4:56 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Increase
Ken Ayers
5:38 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Raising the minimum wage does not put money in Maryland workers pockets. A rise in wages means a rise in costs, where does that rise in costs go? In the price of the product that is being purchased. Raise the minimum wage, prices rise and we are at the same spot again.
Fred Foo
6:58 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Ken's point would be true in a simple closed system. But ours is much more complex. Nonetheless, minimum wages have plenty of drawbacks. There are better alternatives to meet the goals that Sen. Garagiola mentions. (For instance, stop raising taxes every year!)
Arthur Christopher Schaper
10:05 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
"Let's raise it to $15, and right now. Who can live on $10 an hour f'cryin'outloud?"
Why stop there? Why not raise it to $20 or even $30?
Then the Annapolis Statehouse can spend more money that it does not have on uemployment benefits, since more people will end up out of work or have an even harder time finding a job.
In all seriousness, folks, the mininimum wage is a maximum means for maintaining or deepening economic stagnation and umeployment.
Marylanders, enough with one-party rule! These pols have no idea but job security, theirs, not yours!
Say "No!" to minimum wage hikes.
Cate Partridge
10:31 pm on Wednesday, January 23, 2013
Though I do feel it would be nice to see a hike in minimum wage, I would like to address the comment about people living on $10 an hour. Minimum wage is just what it says - THE MINIMUM someone should make to survive. NOT to support a family on, not to live comfortably. Its meant as a starting point for a high school kid to start out on. It was NEVER meant to pay for a new car or two kids or a two bedroom apartment. Raising the minimum is still not going to solve the complex problems of not enough jobs for the layman or enough good careers for the college educated. It's not a bad thought to see a small rise in minimum wage, as the cost of that one bedroom apartment and food has gone up, but it is no magical cure to help people get better jobs that will provide a better flow of money and benefits.