House Speaker Robert DeLeo expects an increase to the state's minimum wage to be debated next year in the Legislature.
"That will be talked about. I know I have some of the supporters coming in at some point by the end of the year to talk about it, so I'm sure that will be one issue that will be up for debate next year," DeLeo said.
With business success, the top and middle classes of Massachusetts residents can look forward to some prosperity, but many advocates on Beacon Hill still want those gains to be felt by the most needy. One way to do that, according to the Legislature's recent voting record, is to increase the minimum wage, upping incomes for the lowest-paid workers in the state.
The state is in the midst of raising the wage already, with it set to rise to $11.00 an hour on Jan. 1. Advocates for a higher wage say $15 for at least some sectors is a more "liveable wage." Many employers are wary that boosting pay for low-earners will harm the bottom line or drive them out of business.
The state last week that statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 3.3 percent in October, down from September's 3.6 percent.
Another celebrated economic uptick came Tuesday when biopharmaceutical company Shire announced plans to build a "rare disease innovation hub" in Kendall Square set to open in 2019.
"There are a lot of success stories. Anywhere from the Boston area to out west, north, south and whatever. So I think it sort of verifies a lot of what we've been talking about was that we're trying to create a business friendly economy here in Massachusetts," DeLeo said Tuesday at an event at a Seaport hotel celebrating the state's business sector.
DeLeo said the contributions of the business sector don't stop with providing jobs, but that "good corporate citizens" often give back to the community in charitable gifts to organizations and schools.
