Colorado voters did the right thing this past Tuesday raising the state minimum wage. Of course, most of that increase may have happened anyway in January, with Democrats taking control of Congress, as well as the state Governor's office retaining control of the state legislature.

Congressional Democrats have promised to pass an increase in the minimum wage in their first 100 hours. While this legislation has yet to be introduced, it will likely raise the federal minimum wage quickly as high as, if not above, the state minimum wage. Assuming Bush does not cast his second veto on this important measure, our state may soon face no competitive disadvantage to other states, based on Colorado's poverty wage workers being paid more than those from other states.

Coloradans, however, voted not only to raise the state minimum, but also to index it for inflation each year. We can over time, then, stay above the sinking tide of American wages. If the federal minimum wage also rises, our transition will be less impactful on Colorado businesses, while also ensuring poverty wage workers in Colorado don't fall further into poverty simply as a result of basic inflation.

A new assault has been waged in the War on Poverty. Good job Colorado in not adopting the Republican cut and run stategy in this critical war!