Support for Raising Minimum Wage Gains Momentum

Last week, both Governor O’Malley and President Obama expressed support for raising the minimum wage. In the coming legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly has the opportunity to act on these calls and increase the economic security and earning power of Maryland workers.

On Thursday, President Obama expressed support for raising the Federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour via the Harkin-Miller bill. The current federal minimum wage is $7.25. The Harkin-Miller bill would raise the minimum wage in three incremental steps of 95 cents over two years, after which the minimum wage would be indexed to inflation. Indexing the minimum wage to inflation is an important policy measure that would allow it to keep up with the cost of living so that workers’ earnings do not erode when policy makers fail to adjust the minimum wage even as prices increase.

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Source: Economic Policy Institute  

While the President’s support for raising the minimum wage is a positive step, Maryland lawmakers should not wait for the federal government to act. These days that seems like a losing proposition. Instead they should take a leadership role and raise the minimum wage in Maryland independent of federal action. Nineteen states and the District of Columbia currently have minimum wages higher than the level set by the federal government. Maryland is not one of them. Nor is Maryland among the ranks of the ten states which currently index their minimum wage to inflation.

For his part, Governor O’Malley argued that raising the minimum wage is a way to “give dignity to every Maryland family that works hard and plays by the rules” and other state lawmakers and candidates for office have expressed support for raising the minimum wage as well. Further, recent polls suggest that the public favors doing so by a four-to-one margin.

In the coming legislative session, Maryland lawmakers should capitalize on this momentum and enact an increase in the minimum wage that will reduce inequality and support economic growth.

Welcome to our international fellow!

MBTPI welcomes Baigalmaa Bayandorj to the staff for the next four months. Ms. Bayandorj is an international fellow with the Community Solutions program, a professional development program run by the U.S. State Department for global community leaders working in the fields of transparency and accountability, tolerance and conflict resolution, environmental issues, and women’s issues. Baigal hails from the city of Ulan Bator, the capital and principal city of Mongolia. She writes:

"I am very excited to join Maryland Nonprofits and the Maryland Budget and Tax Policy Institute. I graduated from The National Mongolian University in 2006. I started to work in non-governmental organizations (NGO) since 2004 when I joined Mongolian Women’s Fund (MONES) as a fundraising and marketing coordinator. During 2009-2010, I worked as a CEO for social marketing in NGO. I started to work on ad hoc basis in Mercy Corps since 2007 and in 2011 I was upgraded to a project officer responsible for the Social Safety Nets Project. At the moment, I work as a consultant on part time basis for Fostering an Inclusive Environment for Local Disabled Project II.

I am an activist, fundraising manager, marketing coordinator, and trainer on social community. My work principle is to ensure accountability and transparency among project leadership, staff and the community. During my work experience, I have learned to work effectively and efficiently, acquired skills of resource mobilization and fundraising. During 2006-2008, I was involved in various training programs organized by the Women’s Funding Network, the “Mama Cash” Women’s Fund and Grantmaking Without Program in US.

Upon my return to Mongolia I intend to work as a volunteer and consultant to the Active Partnership and Public Engagement for Accountable Localities (APPEAL) project. I may also work on an “engagement and advocacy” project about information freedom, transparency law, and budget and tax policy working with employees of large public, NGO, and private organizations."

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MBTPI is excited to have Baigal here. We look forward to learning more about public policy and the NGO sector in Mongolia, and sharing our experiences here in Maryland.