It's all the wage
by Kate Bonamici and Barney Gimbel, FORTUNE Magazine

(FORTUNE Magazine) - What do John Edwards and Arnold Schwarzenegger have in common? Movie star looks aside, both are joining a nationwide effort to raise state minimum wages.

In May, North Carolina and Pennsylvania will probably pass increases, joining recent hikers Maine, Arkansas, and Michigan. That will make 21 states with minimums above the federally mandated $5.15 set in 1997--over half raised since 2004. At least 15 other states are actively considering legislation, and pro-increase referendums will show up on November ballots in four states. Edwards and party chair Howard Dean are trying to brand the minimum wage as a Democratic issue. (It's a popular one: An April Pew Foundation poll found 83% support for an increase.) But Republicans like the Governator want to steal the Dems' thunder. Shrewd Republicans will likely agree to a modest increase now rather than face more generous, Democrat-rallying referendums in November.

Telis Demos contributed to this article. Top of page

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Most stock quote data provided by BATS. Market indices are shown in real time, except for the DJIA, which is delayed by two minutes. All times are ET. Disclaimer. Morningstar: © 2018 Morningstar, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Factset: FactSet Research Systems Inc. 2018. All rights reserved. Chicago Mercantile Association: Certain market data is the property of Chicago Mercantile Exchange Inc. and its licensors. All rights reserved. Dow Jones: The Dow Jones branded indices are proprietary to and are calculated, distributed and marketed by DJI Opco, a subsidiary of S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC and have been licensed for use to S&P Opco, LLC and CNN. Standard & Poor's and S&P are registered trademarks of Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC and Dow Jones is a registered trademark of Dow Jones Trademark Holdings LLC. All content of the Dow Jones branded indices © S&P Dow Jones Indices LLC 2018 and/or its affiliates.