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Gov. Dannel Malloy Wants To Continue Raising Minimum Wage

Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law an incremental minimum wage increase last summer. But, he already wants to scrap that plan. Thursday, as part of his b...

Governor Dannel P. Malloy signed into law an incremental minimum wage increase last summer. But, he already wants to scrap that plan.

Thursday, as part of his budget address to the Connecticut General Assembly, he will propose another minimum wage hike, to $10.10 per hour, as part of a gradual increase.

“We are seeing an improvement in the economy. We’re seeing record profits from many corporations, including some of those corporations that operate the businesses that this will most directly affect,” said Malloy, who has still not announced whether he will seek reelection.

Malloy says he expects overwhelming support from Republican lawmakers. But, the House GOP Leader was not reading the same script.

“Increasing the minimum wage again – Connecticut just raised it 33 days ago – may test well with people answering poll questions at home but it does not sit right with people who create jobs, namely small business owners,” said Lawrence Cafero, in a statement release to the media following Malloy’s announcement in Bridgeport.

Small business owners, by and large, concur with Cafero.

“It’s another increase in costs that unfortunately needs to be turned over to the customers,” said Roy Merluzzo, who owns three family style restaurants.

Just two years ago, Malloy largely opposed a minimum wage increase of any kind. So, why the about-face?

“When I first got elected, we had a 3.6 billion dollar deficit. We have a $500 million surplus. Debt was growing astronomically. Now, debt is decreasing astronomically,” added Malloy.

“We’ve been talking forever about how government should be aiming our policies to helping Main Street, instead of Wall Street. This is what it is,” said State Representative Peter Tercyak (D-New Britain).

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