Wage hike veto faces opposition

HARTFORD, Conn., May 28 (UPI) -- Connecticut Gov. M. Jodi Rell's veto of a minimum wage hike could provoke an override vote by the state's Democratic legislators, observers said.

The bill, had the governor signed it, would have raised the state's minimum wage from $7.65 per hour to $8 in 2009 and $8.25 in 2010.

The bill passed both Connecticut's Senate and House with enough votes to overturn the veto, The Hartford Courant reported.

The governor said the economy could not support a wage hike at this time.

When she was told labor groups would oppose her stance, the newspaper reported, the governor replied, "That's OK. I think they would much rather have jobs than have people out of work right now."