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State lawmakers next Wednesday will debate whether to increase the minimum wage to $7.75 and adjust it annually based on inflation. The lowest legal salary has been fixed at $7.40 per hour since Jan. 1, 2007.

The federal minimum wage was set at $6.55 per hour last July 24. It will increase to $7.25 beginning July 24 of this year. In states where the local minimum wage is higher than the federal level, employers are required to pay the higher rate.

Rhode Island lawmakers will debate the state's minimum wage in Room 201 of the State House. The proposed legislation to raise Rhode Island's minimum wage, House Bill 5233, was introduced by Rep. Charlene Lima, D-Cranston, on Jan. 28 and referred to the House Labor Committee.

A minimum wage hike would help families keep up with rising gas prices and compensate for the loss of an income from a newly unemployed spouse. But it would increase the personnel costs for businesses already struggling in the recession.

The first minimum wage in the United States (covering only women) was instituted in Massachusetts in 1912, according to the Encyclopedia Britannica.

 Tags  Charlene Lima economic development economy General Assembly minimum wage politics

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