Amendment 42

On January 1, 74,000 low-wage workers in Colorado will get a 3.8 percent raise when the state's minimum wage goes up by 28¢ to $7.64 per hour. For employees who work full-time all year, this amounts to $582 more per year.

Voters approved Amendment 42 to Colorado's constitution in 2006, raising the minimum wage and requiring that the wage to be adjusted each year by the rate of inflation in Colorado. Inflation increased by 3.8 percent between July 2010 and June 2011, according to the Boulder-Denver-Greeley Consumer Price Index.

This issue brief details the demographics of those who would be affected by Amendment 42, which would increase the minimum wage in Colorado and index it to inflation.

The Denver Post examines the effects of Amendment 42 on Colorado workers.

A Denver Post Sunday Perspective asserting that raising the minimum wage by voting for Amendment 42 is morally right and economically right.

The Montrose Daily Press reports on the effects of Amendment 42, which increased the minimum wage state-wide and indexed it to inflation, in the Montrose area.

If Colorado voters pass Amendment 42, which will increase the state's minimum wage, about 7 percent of the state's workers will get a raise. A new issue brief from the Bell Policy Center, "Raising Colorado's minimum wage: Who benefits?" confirms that most of these workers are adults, and many are the sole income earners in their household with kids to support.

A map of states that have increased their minimum wage or had an initiative on the ballot in 2006.

This issue brief reviews historical data on inflation in the United States and Colorado, compares increases in inflation with growth in average wages in the national and Colorado economies, and describes how indexing to inflation affects the value of the minimum wage.

Summarizes an issue brief that reviews historical data on inflation in the United States and Colorado, compares increases in inflation with growth in average wages in the national and Colorado economies, and describes how indexing to inflation affects the value of the minimum wage.