Mass. State Senate To Consider Minimum Wage Hike

The Massachusetts Senate will consider a bill, backed by Senate President Therese Murray, to raise the state's hourly minimum wage from $8 to $11 by 2016.

 An aide to Murray says the bill would also tie future increases in the minimum wage to inflation and assure that the state's minimum wage is always at least 50 cents higher than the federal rate.

The Senate is expected to vote Tuesday on the bill.

 Murray, a Plymouth Democrat, first signaled her support for a hike in the minimum wage during a speech to Boston business leaders in April, but until now has not thrown her support behind a specific proposal.

 The state's minimum wage has been $8 per hour since 2008 and isn't automatically adjusted to inflation.

 The federal minimum wage is $7.25 per hour. (Associated Press)