Around New England

Vermont Legislature Approves $15-An-Hour Minimum Wage

May 14, 2018

The Vermont Legislature has approved a bill that would increase the minimum wage in the state to $15 an hour by 2024.

Supporters say it’s a way to ensure that workers get a just and living wage.

Critics, including Governor Phil Scott, a Republican, say the bill would harm the state’s competitiveness by making some jobs too expensive for employers to maintain.

Scott has threatened to veto the bill, but as of Monday morning hadn’t announced a decision.

Democrats hold a 21-7 advantage in the state Senate and an 83-53 advantage in the state House of Representatives. Neither chamber passed the bill by a veto-proof majority.