Raimondo applauds minimum wage hike, says state must do more

By The Associated Press

news@abc6.com

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) _ Gov. Gina Raimondo says the recent increase in the minimum wage will help thousands of Rhode Island residents, but the state can do more to help lift people out of poverty.

The state’s minimum wage increased by 60 cents per hour on Friday, to $9.60.

Tipped workers are getting an increase of 50 cents per hour, to $3.39. It was the first raise to tipped workers’ minimum wage in Rhode Island in 20 years.

Raimondo, a Democrat, says families will have more spending money and in turn, use those higher earnings at local businesses to boost the economy.

But, she says, raising the minimum wage alone is not enough.

She says in 2016, the state must train people with skills for high-wage jobs and create more jobs to boost incomes.

© The Associated Press WLNE-TV   2015