$11.50 minimum wage passed by DC city council

Washington D.C.'s city council has voted unanimously to increase the minimum wage to $11.50 an hour by 2016.

The bill now heads to the desk of Mayor Vincent Gray, who has been opposed to a minimum wage increase that high, but a veto would almost certainly be overridden by the council.

Earlier this year, Gray vetoed a bill that would have required a small number of large retailers -- including Macy's and Walmart -- to pay a $12.50 minimum "livable wage." Walmart threatened to pull out of its plans to bring six stores into the district, and Gray bowed to the company's pressure.

If signed, the wage increase from $8.25 to $11.50 will be phased in over two years.

[Washington Examiner]