Minimum wage, tip credit increased as lawmakers override vetoes

(July 3, 2008) The minimum wage in Connecticut will rise from the current $ 7.65 an hour to $8 on Jan. 1, 2009, and to $8.25 in 2010, because state lawmakers late last month overrode Gov. Rell's veto of the increase.

Legislators also overturned the governor's veto of raising the tip credit for bartenders and wait staff who make less than the state's basic hourly rate. The gratuity allowance for service employees in the restaurant industry will increase to $2.48 per hour, up from current levels of $2.24 per hour.

Both votes were extremely narrow in favor of overrides. With 101 votes needed to override a veto in the House, the final vote on the minimum wage was 102-39, with 13 members missing and not voting. The vote on the tip credit was 101-39 in favor of the override, with 12 missing and not voting.

Twenty-four votes were needed in the Senate to override the vetoes, and two Republicans joined the 23 Senate Democrats to override both, for 25-9 votes on each.

The timing of the minimum wage hike is unfortunate given the current state of the economy. Gov. Rell correctly pointed out that it would hurt Connecticut's small businesses -- who create most of the minimum wage jobs -- and the state's overall business climate.