Utah Democrats Approve Raising Minimum Wage

Call it compassionate liberalism — it's the message that was emanating from the Salt Lake County Democratic Convention Saturday taking form with a new push to increase the minimum wage in Utah to $7 an hour. While in its infancy, the wage thrust is one issue many Democrats think will be supported by the public as well as advance their message of remembering the poor. County Mayor Peter Corroon delivered the convention's keynote address at Highland High School, and while he didn't touch on the minimum wage issue specifically, he outlined the compassionate philosophy and theology behind it. "I'm a Democrat because of my religious beliefs," Corroon said. Adding that "Democrats don't abandon religious principles that teach us to take care of the less fortunate." Part of that principled agenda will be an effort to get a ballot referendum in 2006 calling for Utah to create a statewide minimum wage at $7 per hour, $1.85 higher than the federal minimum. The wage issue was introduced in several morning caucus meetings and was supported by the party's Labor Caucus and Hispanic Caucus, among others. In the afternoon, the entire convention voted to support the measure, which is being pushed by organized labor groups and anti-poverty organizations. With county Democrats on board, backers hope to gain the support of the state convention next month. From there they will seek support from state's religious community, the general public and eventually legislators. [more]