Conn. minimum wage increase clears first hurdle

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — A proposal to increase Connecticut's current $8.25 an hour minimum wage has cleared a key step in the legislative process.

The General Assembly's Labor and Public Employees Committee voted Thursday to forward the bill to the Senate for further action.

The proposed legislation increases the rate by 75 cents on Jan. 1, 2014, and by another 75 cents on Jan. 1, 2016.

As of Jan. 1, 2016, and every year after, the state's minimum wage would be tied to changes in the Consumer Price Index. The CPI measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services.

Some Republican committee members voiced concerns about increased cost to employers, especially business owners. They predicted it could discourage increased hiring, given the slow economy.