You know you don’t want to play with the federal minimum wage laws.  So keep in mind that there is a new rate starting today!

The old rate was $5.15, and was enacted in 1997.

The new rate is $5.85. 

For the next two summers, 2008 and 2009, the rate will jump by $0.70.  After those two increases, the minimum wage will be $7.25.

I guess I didn’t follow the VA State Legislature well enough to notice that their minimum wage bill didn’t pass.  If it had, the minimum wage in VA would be $6.50 already.