Connecticut Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed legislation Thursday that will raise Connecticut's minimum wage to $10.10 an hour by 2017, the highest rate for any state in the country, according to Reuters.
Surrounded by state lawmakers and officials, Malloy appeared at a packed Café Beauregard, the same New Britain restaurant where he dined earlier this month with President Barack Obama and several other New England governors. The president was in town to advocate for a national $10.10 minimum wage, Reuters reported.
After signing the bill, Malloy said it was one of his "proudest days as governor" and added: "It's time to get people out of poverty," according to Reuters.
Earlier in the day, Malloy and legislative leaders received a congratulatory phone call from Vice President Joe Biden, who thanked Connecticut for being the first state to pass legislation enacting the $10.10 wage, Reuters reported. Some cities, but no states, have higher minimum wages.
Connecticut's Democratic-controlled state House and Senate approved the bill Wednesday, with only Democrats supporting the legislation, according to Reuters. The bill will increase the state's current minimum hourly wage of $8.70 to $9.15 on Jan. 1, 2015, to $9.60 in January 2016 and to $10.10 in January 2017.
Legislative Republicans and various business groups criticized the increase as another action making Connecticut uncompetitive, Reuters reported. The state's wage recently climbed to $8.70 on Jan. 1. It was previously scheduled to also increase to $9 next year.
