Area Political Leaders Push for Regional Minimum Wage

Thursday, October 10, 2013

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)Local political leaders yesterday announced a collaborative effort between Montgomery County, the District of Columbia and Prince George’s County to establish a regional minimum wage of $11.50 per hour over the next three years. “Maryland’s minimum wage at $7.25 per hour is the equivalent of $15,000 a year for a full-time, year-round employee, and that leaves a wage earner and their family below the federal poverty line,” said Montgomery County Councilmember Marc Elrich. “We are not talking about people who are trying to take advantage of the system—we are talking about people who just want to take care of their families…and at the current minimum wage, that is not possible.” Elrich on October 1 introduced a bill before the County Council that will be part of the regional collaborative effort; Bill 27-13 was co-sponsored by Council President Nancy Navarro, Vice President Craig Rice and Councilmembers Phil Andrews, Roger Berliner, Valerie Ervin, Nancy Floreen, George Leventhal and Hans Riemer. Elrich joined Prince George’s County Council Chair Andrea Harrison and District of Columbia Council Chairman Phil Mendelson in a joint news conference yesterday to outline their plans to navigate their regional minimum wage through their respective local governments. A public hearing on Bill 27-13 is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24.

 

Powered by Orchid Suites
Orchid ver. 4.7.6.