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BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Activists and some Massachusetts lawmakers are pushing for a higher minimum wage.
The current minimum wage is $15 in Massachusetts as of Jan. 1. In two separately filed, similar bills, lawmakers in the state House and Senate have proposed raising the minimum wage to $20 for non-tip workers by 2027.
State Sen. Jason Lewis told the State House News Service that while a $15 minimum wage certainly helped low-income families, inflation has "really eaten away at the purchasing power of a $15 minimum wage."
Another notable part of the bill adds a provision to adjust minimum wage every year based on inflation and the Consumer Price Index.
WBZ's Chris Fama asked local residents what they thought.
"Most people are working two or three jobs just to make a living...it's going to hurt the employer in a sense too though," said one. Another reasoned that the cost of everyday items had increased, so wages should also rise.
WBZ's Chris Fama (@CFamaWBZ) has more:
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