Gov. O'Malley and Labor Sec. Perez Push Raising Minumum Wage...1 of 2 >
Aug. 7, 2014 - Gov. Martin O'Malley (D-MD) and U.S. Secretary of Labor Tom Perez highlighted the benefits of raising the minimum wage in an event at Boloco in Bethesda.  [At center in the photo above is Boloco CEO Patrick Renna; Montgomery County Executive Ike Leggett also participated in the event].  O'Malley made raising the minimum wage a top priority of the 2014 legislative session, and on May 5, 2014 he signed a bill to raise Maryland's minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $10.10 an hour by July 2018.  He had sought to achieve the raise by 2016 and wanted a higher level but legislative compromise was necessary.  (The measure faced strong opposition from Republicans and the business community, notably the NFIB).  In his first term, back in May 2007, O'Malley signed the first statewide "living wage" measure in the country, affecting the pay of government contractors.
Gov. O'Malley, County Executive Leggett and Secretary Perez made burritos with help from Boloco staff.
Secretary Perez and County Executive Leggett made guacamole while Gov. O'Malley left the kitchen and talked with reporters a bit.  "Chef" Perez really went at it.
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