Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo's minimum wage bill was scheduled to be released today, but it has hit a roadblock.
Deleo’s minimum wage bill suffered an embarrassing delay, as the House committee preparing the bill missed a deadline by one day. And now the Senate won’t grant an extension.
No one involved in the crafting of the bill or the negotiations will talk about the standoff. But Rep. Robert Hedlund, a Republican on the committee says he’s seen this kind of thing before.
"Just some gamesmanship right now between the house and the senate on this issue," Hedlund said.
Senate President Therese Murray has been leading the charge on a minimum wage hike. She put it on the fast track in her chamber. The Senate approved an $11 minimum wage last year, and passed business-friendly changes to the unemployment insurance system in February.
The House has not acted on the Senate bills, instead deciding in recent weeks to start from scratch.
