The Connecticut Senate is expected to vote on a bill today that would increase the state's minimum wage to $10.10 by 2017 and make this the first state in the nation to do so.
If the Senate approves the measure, the House of Representatives could possibly vote on the same proposal. Both chambers are controlled by Democrats.
Gov. Dannel Malloy, also a Democrat, has pushed hard for the legislation this year.
He appeared with President Barack Obama and several other governors recently to call for a $10.10 an hour federal minimum wage.
Earlier this month, President Obama came to Connecticut to push his own proposal to raise minimum wage.
The day before the president’s visit Quinnipiac University released results on a state poll on minimum wage, which found that Connecticut voters support a wage increase, 71 percent to 25 percent.
The state's minimum wage of $8.70 is already set to increase to $9 next year.
Malloy was optimistic about the pending vote in Connecticut, saying “people can look forward to working 40 hours a week and not living in poverty.”
Business groups, however, have said that a higher minimum wage will make Connecticut uncompetitive with other states and ultimately discourage job growth.
