ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) - The Maryland House of Delegates has turned full force against Gov. Martin O'Malley's plan to index the minimum wage to inflation.
Only eight delegates voted Wednesday to put an indexing provision back into the minimum wage bill. Another 124 followed the House Economic Matters Committee's recommendation.
Dereck Davis, D-Prince George's, the committee chair, said the Senate would almost certainly reject the provision. Del. Heather Mizeur, D-Montgomery, urged delegates to vote for it anyway.
The House also rejected 11 other amendments Wednesday. Most were Republican measures to mitigate the bill's effects, such as exempting teens, senior citizens and publicly traded companies. Not one amendment passed.
House Speaker Michael Busch says the third reading will be Friday.
