Obama To Spotlight Minimum Wage In Connecticut

Obama To Spotlight Minimum Wage In Connecticut
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting at the Capitol Hilton February 28, 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama said that the upcoming midterm elections will be a battle for the country's economic future and that Democrats will win with issues like the minimum wage, equal pay and college affordability. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: U.S. President Barack Obama arrives at the Democratic National Committee's Winter Meeting at the Capitol Hilton February 28, 2014 in Washington, DC. Obama said that the upcoming midterm elections will be a battle for the country's economic future and that Democrats will win with issues like the minimum wage, equal pay and college affordability. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

By JOSH LEDERMAN, The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Barack Obama wants the U.S. to follow Connecticut's lead by raising the minimum wage.

Obama is traveling to a public university in Connecticut Wednesday to amplify his call for Congress to raise the hourly rate from $7.25 to $10.10. It's a major priority for Obama this year, but it's not clear Congress will go along.

Governors from Connecticut, Vermont, Rhode Island and Massachusetts will join Obama to lend their support.

Connecticut's governor signed a wage hike last year that raises hourly wages to $9 next January. He's also asked state lawmakers to raise it further to $10.10 in line with Obama's proposal.

Obama will also stop in Boston to headline two fundraisers for the Democratic National Committee.

The trip comes a day after Obama unveiled his 2015 budget proposal.

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