North Carolina -- 1 step closer to hiking minimum wage

The Common Sense Foundation in Raleigh passes long the news:

Are you ready for the best news to come out of Raleigh thus far this year?

North Carolina is about to get an increase in the minimum wage.

The N.C. Senate today gave preliminary approval to the House's version of a bill that would increase the state minimum wage to $6.15 an hour, a dollar above the federal minimum. The Senate vote was by such a huge margin (32-8) that the required second vote on Monday will likely be only a formality.

Gov. Mike Easley has already publicly declared his support for the dollar increase.

North Carolina's working people owe a big debt of gratitude to Rep. Alma Adams, who has championed this bill for years, and the rest of the members of the General Assembly who worked to make this victory a reality.