The State Senate voted to increase the state minimum wage to $11 an hour, which would put Massachusetts at the highest level in the country. Under this proposal, the state minimum wage would increase by 37%. Under the State Senate's proposal, future increases to the state minimum wage would be tied to the rate of inflation, which would remove the democratic process and make future increases automatic. Powerful Beacon Hill unions are supporting this increase because some union contracts are tied to the minimum wage rate. (For a listing of State Senators who voted for the increase, check our scorecard at www.MassFiscalScorecard.org.)

The Massachusetts House of Representatives are scheduled to take up a vote on this proposal in early 2014. Just last year, CNBC rated Massachusetts 47th out of 50 in their “cost of doing business” annual ranking. In addition, Massachusetts' unemployment rate just rose higher than the national rate for the first time in years. Couple these problems with the looming disaster of the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) rollout, and businesses across Massachusetts are facing significant challenges just in trying to keep the doors open.

Our goal is identify 1,000 grassroots activists, small business owners, entrepreneurs, and concerned citizens who will stand up to the unions and share their story why they oppose increasing the state minimum wage to highest rate in the country.  If you agree, please sign up below and we will post your endorsement on our website on an ongoing basis.

We want as many committed activists to sign the petition by February 6th, because the Legislature will be meeting again at that point. They need to hear from you!

(Cartoon courtesy of Jeff Jacoby from the Boston Globe.)