While lawmakers quickly turned attention this session to their own paychecks, advocates are hoping to build momentum behind a bill that would hike the minimum wage to $15, affecting nearly 1 million people.
A bill filed by Arlington Sen. Ken Donnelly and Worcester Rep. Dan Donahue, both Democrats, will raise the wage floor to $15 by 2021.
“Do you think that $15 an hour is enough money? Or $31,000 a year is enough to live in Massachusetts? Not around here. I think that $15 an hour should have been done last year, and it’s not too much or too soon,” Donnelly said.
A year-round 40-hour-per-week job at a $15 hourly rate would work out to $31,200 annually.
Along with a $40.5 billion spending plan, Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday filed legislation shaking up state government’s organization chart, eliminating the Dept. of Public Safety, and creating a new office to take over some of its functions.
The reorganization plan establishes an Office of Public Safety and Inspections to be housed within the Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development’s Division of Professional Licensure. The Department of Fire Services would assume the department’s fire-related functions and the new office would take responsibility for all other responsibilities.
From State House News Service