CONCORD, N.H. (AP) - The latest effort to increase the minimum wage in New Hampshire has died in the state Senate.
New Hampshire currently doesn’t set its own minimum wage. Instead, the state follows the federal minimum which is $7.25 per hour. The Republican-led Senate voted 14-10 along party lines Thursday to reject a bill that would have set the rate at $10 per hour starting in January and then increased it to $12 two years later.
Supporters called it a modest step toward supporting working families, attracting workers from other states and reducing the number of people seeking state assistance. Opponents said it would hurt young workers if businesses turned to automated checkout stations instead of hiring cashiers or could force some businesses to close altogether.
Democrats passed minimum wage bills the last two years when they controlled the Legislature, but the measures were vetoed by Republican Gov. Chris Sununu.
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