The D.C. Council has given preliminary approval to an increase in the District of Columbia's minimum wage to $11.50 an hour, one of the nation's highest.
The 13-member council voted unanimously Tuesday to advance the bill. It will have to clear one more vote before going to Mayor Vincent Gray's desk.
The Democratic mayor supports raising the minimum wage from its current $8.25 to $10 an hour, but not higher. However, he said Tuesday he wants to continue working with the council to find consensus on the appropriate wage increase.
Last month, suburban Montgomery and Prince George's counties also approved raising their minimum wages to $11.50. It follows a national trend in which localities and states are addressing the minimum wage in the wake of federal inaction.
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