By Staff
LANSING – In her weekly radio address, Gov. Jennifer M. Granholm reminded Michigan citizens that a higher state minimum wage went into effect July 1 as the result of legislation she called for and signed into law last year. The increase will result in a raise for more than half a million Michigan workers.
"What a great step forward for Michigan's families," Granholm said. "This increase will put a little more money in the pockets of Michigan citizens who are working hard every day to pay for rent, to fill up their gas tanks and to put food on the table for their kids."
The state minimum wage rose from $6.95 to $7.15 an hour. It will rise once again to $7.40 an hour on July 1, 2008, the third and final increase mandated by the new law.
Before Granholm signed the 2006 measure, the state minimum wage was $5.15 an hour, the federally-mandated minimum which had not been increased since 1997.
Granholm emphasized the importance of the minimum wage to families and Michigan's economy, noting that economists report that rising wages can stimulate economic activity throughout the state.