Politics & Government

POLL: Should Minnesota Lawmakers Raise the Minimum Wage?

Bills asking lawmakers to raise the minimum wage by more than $3 have made their way to the floor. How much should the Legislature raise minimum wage, if at all, in one of the lowest-paid states in the country.

Minnesota lawmakers, during this period of slow, economic recovery, are taking up the debate of the amount of the state's minimum wage.

Currently, both tipped workers and minimum wage workers can be paid as low as $6.15/hour, legally, in Minnesota.

Most employers, though, abide by the Federal minimum wage, which is set at $7.25.

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Still, 6 percent of the state's workforce makes that amount, which analysts have said won't lift a worker or a family above the poverty line.

Rep. Ryan Winkler of Golden Valley has introduced a bill to change that, moving Minnesota from one of the lowest minimum wage states in the nation to one of the highest. His bill hikes the state's minimum wage to $10.55/hr for high earners, or businesses that make more than $500,000 annually.

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Republicans have agreed with the DFL, including Winkler, that the wage needs to go up. However, many say the more than $3 increase is too large.

Where do you stand?

Vote in our Patch poll on the state's minimum wage, and leave your reasoning in the comments below. 

Are DFLers right? Does the current economy warrant a bigger increase? 

Or should the state follow the GOP's lead and be more careful? 

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