Romney rejects minimum wage bill
Critics say he broke a campaign promise
Governor Mitt Romney yesterday rejected the Legislature's plan to raise the state minimum wage to $8 an hour over two years, angering Democratic lawmakers and advocates who accused him of abandoning a 2002 campaign pledge to significantly boost the pay of low-wage workers.
Romney, expressing concern that such a large increase would imperil the state's economy, sent the bill back to lawmakers with his own plan: Raise the minimum wage from $6.75 to $7 an hour on Jan. 1 and have the executive branch study and possibly recommend further increases every two years.
``Such abrupt and disproportionate increases would threaten to eliminate jobs in Massachusetts, especially at the entry level," Romney said in a letter to lawmakers.
Democratic legislators and candidates for governor immediately blasted Romney's move and predicted a quick rejection of his proposed amendment, perhaps as early as Monday. That would send the bill back to Romney, who could then sign it or veto it.
``Governor Romney today proved himself fundamentally untrustworthy and unbelievable when it comes to addressing the needs of the working poor," said state Representative James Marzilli, an Arlington Democrat and leading proponent of a minimum-wage hike. ``Four years ago he promised action on the minimum wage, and today he delivered the final rebuke to his campaign promise."
In 2002, Romney proposed modest, regular increases in the minimum wage that would be indexed to inflation. Marzilli criticized Romney for never acting on that as governor, and he sees Romney's rejection of the bill yesterday as proof that he never had any intention of doing so.
Romney spokesman Eric Fehrnstrom said the 25-cent increase the governor is calling for reflects the rate of inflation. He said the Legislature rejected earlier proposals to index minimum wage increases to inflation. Romney, he said, is hoping legislators will instead embrace the idea to study increases every couple years.
``The governor is not opposed to a minimum-wage increase, but he thinks it should be in line with inflation, so that's what he has put on the table," Fehrnstrom said. ``This is logical and consistent with what the governor has supported in the past."
Fehrnstrom said the Legislature's proposed increases, to $7.50 on Jan. 1 and then to $8 on Jan. 1, 2008, would significantly exceed the rate of inflation. The $8-an-hour rate would probably give Massachusetts the highest rate in the country in 2008.
Proponents of the boost approved by the Legislature said the more than 300,000 workers statewide who make the lowest legal wage deserve a good increase after waiting more than five years. The last minimum-wage increase was in 2001.
``It's too bad that all [Romney] can spare is a quarter," said state Senator Marc R. Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat who was chief sponsor of the Senate bill. ``It's really almost laughable, but it's not a laughing matter for thousands and thousands of minimum-wage workers who have been playing by the rules, paying their taxes, and doing everything they should be doing except participating fully in the Massachusetts economy."
Romney's rejection of the bill represents another break with his lieutenant governor, Kerry Healey, who is running as the Republican candidate for governor this year. Healey would have signed the bill, according to her campaign manager, Tim O'Brien.
The bill passed handily in the House and Senate, so it appears likely the Legislature won't accept Romney's proposed changes.
But the legislative session ends July 31, and some lawmakers expressed fear that Romney would wait until after that date and then veto the legislation. It was unclear last night whether lawmakers could come back after the formal session to override a veto.
State Representative Michael J. Rodrigues, who crafted the House version of the bill, said he hopes Romney does not do that.
``It would be intentional, and it would be blatant, and I don't think that's the legacy he's going to want for his administration," said Rodrigues, a Westport Democrat, who called on Romney to accept the Legislature's overwhelming support for the legislation and just sign it.
Democratic candidates for governor Thomas F. Reilly and Deval L. Patrick issued statements slamming the governor.
Some advocates also accused the governor, a potential presidential candidate in 2008, of merely trying to avoid upsetting business interests for political reasons.
``He's putting his national presidential ambitions over the needs of working families here in Massachusetts," said Carl Nilsson, spokesman for Neighbor to Neighbor Massachusetts, a group that organizes for low-income families.
Scott Helman can be reached at shelman@globe.com. Andrea Estes can be reached at estes@globe.com. 