Union leaders, clergy and other activists are launching an effort to put a major minimum wage increase on the District of Columbia ballot.
D.C. Council member Vincent Orange said he plans to move a bill out of committee that would increase the city's minimum wage from $8.25 to $11.50 an hour over the next three years.
Mayor Vincent Gray also supports a minimum wage increase, although he wants an independent study to determine the appropriate amount.
The activists pushing for a ballot initiative want a minimum wage of $12.50 an hour, which would be the highest in the nation. They say it would help address income inequality in the fast-growing city. They discussed their plans outside the District government building on Tuesday.
Copyright The Associated Press
