The highest minimum wage for any state in the country was approved by Connecticut lawmakers on Wednesday, with $10.10 an hour going into effect by 2017.
Connecticut's minimum wage will now match the federal minimum wage being pushed by President Barack Obama, the Associated Press reported.
Obama, Democratic Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, and several New England governors recently presented the proposal of a federal minimum wage.
Claiming that he'll sign the bill into law at the same New Britain restaurant where Obama dined earlier this month during a visit, Mallow was thrilled with the outcome of Wednesday's votes.
"I am proud that Connecticut is once again a leader on an issue of national importance," Malloy said. "Increasing the minimum wage is not just good for workers, it's also good for business."
Other states, and possibly Congress, will now have a clear way after Connecticut to pass the legislation, Jack Temple, a policy analyst for the National Employment Law Project, said.
"I think the significance cannot be overstated for this," he said. "The more action we see on the state level like this, that's always an ingredient for momentum at the federal level as well."
Maryland, Massachusetts, Hawaii and other lawmakers are also looking for similar proposals to be passed, the New York-based nonprofit research and advocacy group said.
"The $10.10 wage is the highest imposed by a state, but there are higher minimum wages imposed by cities, including $10.74 in San Francisco. Washington, D.C., will raise its minimum wage to $11.50 by 2016," the AP reported. "California's minimum wage will increase to $10 by 2016."
"I hope Members of Congress, governors, state legislators and business leaders across our country will follow Connecticut's lead to help ensure that no American who works full time has to raise a family in poverty, and that every American who works hard has the chance to get ahead," Obama said in a statement after Wednesday's vote.
However, the move was questioned by Republican senators who raised issues of struggling small businesses and the state's weak economy, the AP reported.
"To call it soft is a compliment," said Sen. Joe Markley, R-Southington. "We're increasing the minimum wage at a time when the demand for employment is already low."
