(Mass.) Minimum wage hike veto rejected

[brooklynite]

Romney overridden by unanimous vote
By Lisa Wangsness and Cristina Silva, Globe Staff | August 1, 2006

The Legislature unanimously overrode Governor Mitt Romney's veto of a minimum wage increase last night, rejecting the governor's view that the boost would hurt businesses and the poor.

The override means that the state's minimum wage will probably be among the highest in the country within two years. The legislation increases the $6.75-an-hour rate to $7.50 an hour on Jan. 1 and to $8 in 2008.

The vote, at shortly before 8 p.m., followed very little debate, and though it appeared all Republican members of both chambers abandoned the governor, an official roll call was not immediately available last night. The House voted 152 to 0 to override Romney, and minutes later the Senate voted 38 to 0.

``For those of us that care about the minimum wage, it's simply an issue of fairness, of economic justice," said state Senator Marc R. Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat who was the chief sponsor of the Senate bill.

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2006/08/01/minimum_wage_hike_veto_rejected/

[gratuitous]

1. Ouch, Mitt

That's gotta hurt. I think it's gonna leave a mark, too.

[Warpy]

6. The mark will be on opposition ads if he decides he

wants to be the president.

New England pubbies are a different breed. They're often more liberal than southern Democrats. I don't wonder they all voted to override Romney's shameful veto.

[Viva_La_Revolution]

2. Very nice!

:applause:

[redqueen]

3. thanks for the good news!

we need more bubble-up policies... let's hope this is the start of a trend!

[dipsydoodle]

4. At current exchange rate

UK minimum will be just under $10 by this coming October. See here for simplified details :
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4296097.stm

Increases in mimimum wage levels are not any justification for increased prices IMHO. As Mr Pacheco is reported as saying "it's simply an issue of fairness, of economic justice"

[datadiva]

5. Now thats what I'm talkin about!

Elvis has left the building! :toast:

152 to 0

38 to 0

Bipartisan cooperation for the good of the state.

[Robbien]

7. Great! Have any other states increased the minimum wage?

Or is Mass. the first?

[shadowknows69]

12. NY did a couple years ago.

I think it's going up to seven by 2007. Still not enough.

[FreeStateDemocrat]

8. Litmus test of an asshole governor is vetoing a minimum wage hike.

How was this clown ever elected governor of Mass.as he wasn't smart enough to avoid this tar baby which will be stuck to him through 2008? And to think this ass wipe is suppose to be a "moderate" Republican unless he is playing to the national puke power brokers.

[valerief]

9. Those backdoor Diebold and ESS voting machines is how. n/t

[samsingh]

10. sounds good

[bunkerbuster1]

11. IT's ok to applaud Republicans when they're decent, in here, right?

Assuming that's the case: Bravo, MA GOP!

I offically retract .005% of every nasty thing I ever said about Northeastern Republicans.

[Barkley]

13. 152-0 and 38-0 WOW! I am impressed! eom