Increasing the $8.25 minimum wage is popular among Democrats, Republicans and unaffiliated voters in the Quinnipiac University poll released today.
An increase is supported by 75 percent and opposed by 22 percent of voters, with 58 percent of Republicans, 91 percent of Democrats, 72 percent of unaffiliateds, 66 percent of men and 83 percent of women backing an increase.
The co-chairs of the legislature’s Labor and Public Employees Committee, which has endorsed increasing the hourly rate to $9 on Jan. 1 and to $9.75 a year later, jumped on the poll.
“I’m happy for the bipartisan public support,” said Rep. Peter Tercyak, D-New Britain.
“The corporate voices of those who would keep Connecticut citizens working at poverty-level wages while wringing more and more productivity out of them are very loud and very insistent,” said Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague. “Now we have another voice — the voice of the average person — telling us now is the time to raise the minimum wage in Connecticut.”
A year ago, with voters favoring an increase by a 70 percent to 28 percent margin, the Senate refused to take a vote on an increase.