MD Senate OKs $1-an-hour minimum wage increase.

• Republican Governor Hesistant about Raising  wage above $5.15 an Hour

The Senate voted 30-16 Thursday to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15 an hour, an increase supporters said is needed to catch up with inflation. If the proposal wins final approval, it would raise the salary for a full-time worker earning minimum wage from the current $10,712 a year to $12,792. "This is a modest increase, but it will make a difference in Maryland," said Tom Hucker, executive director of Progressive Maryland. But opponents say raising the minimum wage would harm business, and while the measure has the support of the Senate president and House speaker, it could face a veto by Gov. Robert Ehrlich. "The governor is never enthusiastic about proposals that could potentially force employers to lay off employees," said Ehrlich spokesman Henry Fawell. Ehrlich last year vetoed a so-called "living wage" bill that would have required workers under state-government contract be paid at least $10.50 an hour. While this bill is less ambitious than the living wage bill, Fawell said the governor is "not inclined" to support it, either. "We'll reserve judgment until (the bill) reaches the governor's desk," he said. The state's current minimum wage matches the federal rate, which has not changed since 1997. The bill passed Thursday would raise the minimum wage by $1 an hour, but would allow employers to deduct their hourly cost in health benefits to their employees, back to a minimum of $5.15 an hour. Several types of workers would remain exempt from the minimum-wage requirement, including tip-earning workers, full-time students and disabled employees. [more]