Florida Minimum Wage To Rise

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Florida's minimum wage increases to
$7.21 an hour on New Year's Day, a jump of 42 cents for roughly
400,000 workers.
The increase, which is based on an annual consumer price
adjustment, translates to an extra $16.80 for a 40-hour week.
The state's minimum wage went up to $6.15 an hour in 2005 after
voters had approved a constitutional amendment the previous year.
It has now increased another $1.06 since.
Supporters say the increase is desperately needed because
Florida has the highest rate of job losses in the country and 10
percent of all Floridians are on food stamps.
Business groups, however, don't like the wage hike because they
say it will limit the number of jobs available, especially during a
recession.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

(Florida is one of several states with a minimum wage law. Alabama and Mississippi do not have one.)