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KBIA 91.3 FM will be at low power for a portion of the day on 3/29/2024 starting at 9:30 a.m. to accommodate a tower crew doing some maintenance on equipment

Missouri Votes to Raise Minimum Wage

Proposition B on the Missouri ballot, which sought to raise the state's minimum wage, passed Tuesday by over 60 percent.

Currently, Missouri's minimum wage is $7.85. It will now be increased gradually to $8.60 by next year and then after 2019, the minimum wage will be increased by 85 cents until it reaches $12 in 2023.

"We hope that this is enough to start destressing the lives of some of the lowest paid workers in the state," said Lew Prince, the state coordinator for the Missouri Business for a Fair Minimum Wage.

Missouri is among the 29 states that have a minimum wage above the federal minimum of $7.25.

KBIA previously reported that 600 Missouri business owners and executives in publicly endorsing Missouri's Proposition B. Prince said that the wage increase had supporters from both sides of the aisle.

"People from really every age strata and every walk of life made this happen," Prince said. "And it shows that no matter what legislators and politicians do, people can put something on the ballot as citizens, as people, and decide to improve things in the state."

He called it a "really good sign for democracy."