Vermont Lawmakers Vote to Raise Minimum Wage

The Vermont legislature voted Friday to hike the minimum wage to $10.50 by the year 2018. The bill's 132-4 passage was pushed through just one day before the legislative session ended.

According to the bill:

Beginning January 1, 2016, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate of less than $9.60. Beginning January 1, 2017, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate of less than $10.00. Beginning January 1, 2018, an employer shall not employ any employee at a rate of less than $10.50...on each subsequent January 1, the minimum wage rate shall be increased by five percent or the percentage increase of the Consumer Price Index...but in no event shall the minimum wage be decreased.

The state's current hourly wage of $8.73 is already one of the highest in the nation. On it's current trajectory lawmakers seem intent on keeping it that way. Gov. Peter Shumlin (D) has already stated his support of the bill:

I will be proud to sign the minimum wage bill that passed tonight. Time to #RaiseTheWage in #VT #vtpoli

— Peter Shumlin (@GovPeterShumlin) May 10, 2014

Connecticut, Delaware, Maryland, Minnesota, West Virginia and D.C. have also passed minimum wage increases this year.