The minimum wage: It's all local

Nationwide rate becoming irrelevant as more states and cities boost pay

WASHINGTON - Speaker of the House-in-Waiting Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., says that if Democrats take control, she'll rush through a bill increasing the federal minimum wage from its current $5.15 — the lowest, in inflation-adjusted dollars in more than 50 years— to $7.25.

But Pelosi's push wouldn't help any of her own constituents. That's because on Jan. 1, California's minimum wage will rise to $7.50, and San Francisco's to $9.14.

OK, maybe San Francisco is a little out there. But California isn't alone. According to data compiled by the National Conference of State Legislatures, 16 states, including New York, Florida, Pennsylvania and Michigan, have increases slated to take effect on Jan. 1. After that round of hikes, a dozen will have minimums topping $7 an hour.