The Senate by an overwhelming majority passed a bill yesterday to raise the minimum wage over the course of two years by $1.50 to $8.25 per hour from the current $6.75 per hour, which would make it the highest in the nation. This measure would help nearly a half million Massachusetts workers. More significantly, the bill would index the minimum wage to inflation to prevent workers from effectively taking a pay cut every time prices and the cost of living rise. The Senate bill is very close to the bill the Massachusetts AFL-CIO and many allies have sought for years. Senator Pacheco is to be thanked for his leadership on this issue. The House also has a bill to raise the minimum wage but it is much more modest. It raises the minimum wage to $7.75 per hour and does not index it to the minimum wage. Clearly the Senate bill is better for working families, and thus there is work to be done to convince the House to adopt the Senate version. Rich Marlin, Legislative Director at the Mass. AFL-CIO, said calls to state representatives are needed immediately to urge them to amend the House version. Marlin said a new amended version would likely come up for a vote in two weeks. Marlin urged members to visit Secretary Galvin's office to determine their who their state representative is and encourage them to support the Senate's version of the bill.