CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The New Hampshire Senate has put a minimum wage bill on hold, but another version remains alive in the House.
The state relies on the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour, the lowest in New England. Both the House and Senate have passed slightly different bills that would establish a state minimum wage and gradually increase it to $12 over several years. The Senate voted Thursday to delay action on the House bill until next year, while the House has yet to act on the Senate bill.
Democrats argue that the current rate is far below a living wage. Republicans counter that states that have enacted increases have seen jobs decline and the take-home pay for low-wage workers decrease due to reduced hours.
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