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Minimum wage effort would raise hourly rate across D.C. metro area

By Nick Iannelli

WASHINGTON – Leading lawmakers from Montgomery County, Prince George’s County and D.C. are banding together to lobby for a minimum wage hike across all three jurisdictions.

The “regional minimum” for employees would be $11.50 an hour by 2016 if the officials succeed in their effort.

D.C. Council Chairmain Phil Mendelson, Prince George’s County Council Chairwoman Andrea Harrison and Montgomery County Council Member Marc Elrich are unveiling the plan Wednesday at the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

Currently, the minimum wage in D.C. is $8.25 an hour.

In Maryland, minimum wage is $7.25 an hour.

The minimum wage in Virginia also is $7.25 an hour, but local governments lack the authority to bypass the state and set their own wage standards.

The fresh effort focusing on a minimum wage increase follows a failed plan that would have targeted only large retailers in D.C.

Mayor Vincent Gray vetoed that measure, dubbed the ‘living wage’ bill.

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