Maine Lawmakers to Consider Minimum Wage Increase
The Maine legislature will decide whether or not to increase Maine’s minimum wage during this legislative
session. The minimum wage is now at $7.00/hour. The proposal is to raise it to $8.40/hour. They will also
consider a plan to “index” the minimum wage. This would mean an annual increase based on the increase in the cost
of living.
Legislators are considering LD 1697, a bill sponsored by Senator Ethan Strimling (D. Portland). It would also
ensure that employees who earn tips get an increase too. It would also expand coverage under minimum wage and
overtime laws to some workers not now covered, including employees of certain non-profit organizations.
The Labor Committee held a public hearing on LD 1697 in early December. Many organizations including MAIN,
labor, faith-based and women’s groups support the bill. The restaurant industry and other business groups oppose
it.
Despite the recent increase in the federal minimum wage, 32 states have a state minimum wage that is higher
than the federal wage. Ten states have indexed their minimum wage to help low-wage workers keep up with the
cost of living. Maine’s minimum wage is currently the second lowest in New England. Only New Hampshire’s wage
is lower.
Single parents have much to gain from a minimum wage increase. While single parents represent only 7% of the
workforce, they represent 10% of those who will benefit from the higher minimum wage recently enacted by Congress.
Opponents have argued for decades that increases in the minimum wage cause job losses. But research has shown that
this isn’t true. Modest increases in the minimum wage, like the one proposed in Maine, do not result in measurable
job loss.
The Labor Committee will vote on LD 1697 soon. If your Representative or Senator is on the Labor Committee,
please call or e-mail him or her now! Ask for their support to increase the minimum wage and index it
annually to keep up with inflation. (See Labor Committee list below.)
The bill will then go to the full legislature for a vote. So now’s the time to ask your Senator and
Representative to support this legislation even if he or she isn’t on the Labor Committee.
The time is right for an increase! Household expenses like gas and oil prices are rising far faster than the
wages of the workers with the lowest incomes. Let’s work together to win a raise for the workers in our State
who need it the most!
Find your legislators! To get their names and contact information go to:
www.congress.org. Enter your zip code
under ‘My Elected Officials.’ This site lists both state and federal officials.
Joint Standing Committee on Labor
Senator Ethan Strimling (D-Cumberland), Chair
Senator Nancy B. Sullivan (D-York)
Senator Dana L. Dow (R-Lincoln)
Representative John L. Tuttle, Jr. (D-Sanford), Chair
Representative Troy Dale Jackson (D-Allagash)
Representative Herbert E. Clark (D-Millinocket)
Representative Timothy E. Driscoll (D-Westbrook)
Representative Anne M. Haskell (D-Portland)
Representative Richard John Burns (D-Berwick)
Representative Brian M. Duprey (R-Hampden)
Representative James M. Hamper (R-Oxford)
Representative Douglas A. Thomas (R-Ripley)
Representative Peter B. Johnson (R-Greenville)
Get e-mail addresses for Labor Committee members
Toll-free numbers in Augusta. Leave a message.
Senators: 1-800-423-6900
Representatives: 1-800-423-2900
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