Bill to increase minimum wage sent to governor

BOSTON --A bill that would raise the state's minimum wage for the first time in seven years has been sent to Gov. Mitt Romney's desk, though there was no indication whether he would sign it into law.

The Senate gave final approval to the measure on Wednesday, a day after House lawmakers offered their support.

Romney's spokesman, Eric Fehrnstrom, said no decision had been made on what the governor would do, but the Legislature, which is controlled by Democrats, has consistently overridden his vetoes since he took office in 2003.

Under the bill, the minimum wage in Massachusetts would increase from $6.75 per hour to $7.50 per hour as of Jan. 1, 2007. A year later, it would be increased by another 50 cents, to $8 per hour, which lawmakers have said would give the state the third highest minimum wage in the country.

The last time state lawmakers increased the Massachusetts minimum wage was 1999, when Democrats pushed through a bill increasing the wage from $5 to $6.75 by 2001.