Great news on the minimum wage

The State Assembly managed to come together on a version of Rep. Mark Cohen's minimum wage bill, passing the resulting measure by the happy margin of 146-50. It retains the $2 increase of the original bill ($1 this summer and another next year), for a final rate of $7.15, although no provisions for future cost-of-living adjustments remain. Also part of the compromise is an exemption for the first 60 days of employment of workers under 20, presumably to deprive opponents of the argument that the hike benefits only college students flipping burgers for the summer (not, in fact, the typical minimum wage profile).

Great work by all who have fought for this bill! On to the Senate!

Update: Marc Stier has more on the strategy considerations going forward, and the role that public pressure may have played (or still could) in getting this bill onto the floor for a vote.