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AUGUST, Maine — In a move denounced by the business community, Maine’s minimum wage would go up every year based on the increase in the consumer price index under a measure now before lawmakers.

“There have been a number of states in the country that have done this,” said Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, House chairman of the Legislature’s Labor Committee and sponsor of the bill. “This is a more efficient method of addressing the need of a minimum wage, particularly given difficult economic times.”

He said several constituents had approached him about sponsoring an increase in the minimum wage, both through tying it to the consumer price index and through a fixed increase.