Maryland First State to Mandate Living Wage

Maryland has become the first state to require its contractors to pay employees a living wage, a victory for working families pushed by a coalition of union members, religious leaders and civil rights advocates.

"It's going to lift tens of thousands of Marylanders out of poverty," state Delegate Tom Hucker told the Washington Post. "It makes Maryland a leader in ensuring that our tax dollars are helping build the middle class rather than perpetuating poverty."

Despite huffing-and-puffing from the Chamber of Commerce and fits from Republicans, the Maryland Senate voted 31-16 on its last day in session to approve the measure, which the House passed last week. Gov. Martin O'Malley (D), who campaigned for the legislation, has promised to sign the bill.

The new law will require service contractors doing business with the state to pay employees $11.30 an hour in urban areas and $8.50 an hour in rural areas. The state's minimum wage is $6.15 an hour.