A state Senate proposal to increase the Massachusetts minimum wage has been withdrawn, even though a key proponent said most senators have publicly stated their support for an increase.
State Sen. Marc Pacheco withdrew his amendment, part of a welfare reform proposal, Thursday afternoon. Following a recess during which he discussed his amendment with Senate leaders, the Taunton Democrat said he had been told it was not the “appropriate time” to consider the issue, and that it would be considered during the normal legislative process.
The Senate voted 37-1 to approve a sweeping overhaul of the state’s welfare system that would strengthen efforts to move people off public assistance and into the workforce, while also attempting to tackle concerns of fraud and abuse with reforms such as adding photo identification to EBT cards, enhanced penalties for trafficking and a denial of benefits if a recipient cannot produce a valid Social Security number within three months.
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