Minimum wages rising in these states, cities

Monday marks the start of a new fiscal year for many state governments, ushering in a number of minimum wage increases across the country.

In January, Democrats on Capitol Hill introduced the “Raise the Wage Act,” which aims to gradually increase the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2024. The legislation has more than 180 co-sponsors, including support from House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.

The current federal minimum wage is $7.25 – which Independent Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders, who is running for president in 2020, has called a “starvation wage.”

While not all Republicans are opposed to raising the minimum wage, some – including White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow – think states should make those decisions, rather than the federal government.

Here’s a look at some of the states and cities where minimum wages are increasing on Monday:

New Jersey

In New Jersey, the minimum wage rose to $10 per hour, up from $8.85. The 13 percent increase is part of the state legislature’s five-year plan to increase wages to $15 per hour by 2024.

Oregon

Minimum wage workers in Oregon saw their hourly pay rise by $0.50 on Monday. The minimum wage is now $12.50 in Portland, $11 in more rural areas and $11.25 for everywhere in between.

Wages in the state are set to gradually increase through 2022.

Minneapolis, Minnesota

The minimum wage for small businesses in Minneapolis rose to $11 per hour – including those companies that have 100 employees, or less.

For larger businesses, the minimum pay rate increased to $12.25 per hour.

Large employers in the state will be required to adhere to an hourly wage rate of $15 by July, 2022.

Washington, D.C.

In the nation’s capital, wages increased to $14, from $13.25.

Chicago, Illinois

In the Windy City, the minimum wage rose to $13 per hour, up from $12.

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California

Several counties in California also hiked their minimum wages on Monday. In Berkeley, the new minimum wage is $15.59, up from $15. The same hike will affect workers in San Francisco.

In Los Angeles, minimum wages rose to $14.25 for employers with 26 or more employees – the same for Malibu.