President Barack Obama visited Connecticut Wednesday to push for a federal minimum wage hike to $10.10 an hour. A group in Amherst, Massachusetts, is being a bit more ambitious, hoping to push the town’s minimum wage nearly $5 higher than that.
Petitioners in Amherst submitted enough signatures this week to trigger a special town meeting on their proposal. If the raise passes town meeting, it will head to the state legislature for approval.
“If this were to be approved by town meeting, it would be submitted at a time when the legislatuire is considering minimum wage statewide legisaltion,” says Amherst Town Manager John Musante.
Musante declined to take a position on the proposal or speculate on its chances of passing. But he points out that it would nearly double the current $8 an hour minimum wage.
The special town meeting will be held March 19th.