Automatic minimum-wage hike passes House

By Niki Kelly, The Journal Gazette

INDIANAPOLIS - The state's minimum wage would automatically rise if Congress increases the federal rate, under a bill approved 75-22 Tuesday by the Indiana House.

House Bill 1027 now goes to the governor for his consideration. It previously raised Indiana's minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.50 an hour by 2008, which conflicted with a bill pending before Congress to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in increments over the next two years.