President Barack Obama recently ordered a minimum wage increase for federal contractors. Now Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he may consider a similar executive order at the state level.
The Democrat made his comments Friday after a meeting with the president at the White House where minimum wage was discussed.
"We are going to evaluate what the status is of workers who work for the state and/or contractors with the state to look what might be the right policy in that regard," Inslee said, adding his review will take several months.
The governor’s budget office estimated that it would cost taxpayers $2 million per year to boost the minimum wage for state employees to $12 per hour.
Long term, the governor supports an increase in Washington’s statewide minimum wage for everyone. It’s currently $9.32 oern hour, the highest in the nation.
