WASHINGTON, D.C. – Following the Senate’s failure to advance legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine) pledged to work across the aisle to find a compromise and urged his colleagues to do the same.

Senator King said:

“It’s a core American principle: if you work hard, then you deserve a fair shot at making a good living – but it seems like we’re moving further and further away from what used to be such a simple truth. Far too many responsible, hardworking Americans struggle to make ends meet – even live in poverty – because the minimum wage simply isn’t keeping pace with the soaring cost of living. That’s just not right.

“I’m disappointed and saddened that the Senate missed its opportunity to help working Americans by boosting the wage and putting more money into the pockets of those who could really use it. After all, how are we ever going to fully recover from the economic downturn if we don’t take steps to ensure that American workers are able to do more than just get by? Those extra dollars would go a long way toward investing in their lives, their futures, and their local economies.

“This issue is too important to fall victim to partisan, election-year politics. I’m going to push forward to find common ground with my colleagues and hope to strike a compromise that will increase the minimum wage. It would be shameful to walk away from this session without any progress.”

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