Tester statement on Senate’s failure to increase minimum wage

(U.S. SENATE) – Senator Jon Tester today released the following statement after the U.S. Senate failed to pass the Minimum Wage Fairness Act that raises the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour:

“Montanans work hard and know that every day we don’t raise the minimum wage is another day the value of hard work continues to fall. Raising the minimum wage will help thousands of Montanans make ends meet and put more money into the pockets of local business owners. Today, a minority of Senators blocked this common-sense bill that the American people want and working families need.”

Fifty-four Senators supported today’s bill, but it failed to receive the 60 votes needed to move forward.

According to the nonpartisan Economic Policy Institute, over 80,000 Montanans would see a raise if the minimum wage was increased to $10.10 per hour. At $7.90 per hour, Montana’s minimum wage is higher than the current federal minimum wage.

In 1968, the federal minimum wage was $1.60 per hour, which translates to approximately $10.70 in 2013 dollars.