WASHINGTON - President Obama's thrust to increase the minimum wage, which has so far been successful among Democrat-leaning states, may gain momentum in the Republican heartland in the upcoming elections.

 GOP-led states Alaska, Arkansas, South Dakota and Nebraska may hold voter initiatives this November above the nationwide rate of US$7.25 per hour. Bipartisan speculation suggests there is a good chance the initiatives will push through, according to Reuters.

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If successful, the voter initiatives could aid liberals and labor unions to increase wages in Republican-controlled states where lawmakers have been unwilling to act.

Based on the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, voters from both conservative- and liberal-leaning states have been highly supportive of minimum wage hike ballots since 1996 and have approved 13 increases since then.

For instance, New Jersey constituents voted to raise the minimum wage to US$8.25 per hour after Gov. Chris Christie rejected an increase that had been previously passed legislature. In Michigan and Minnesota, legislators opted to implement the price hike this year and do away with the voter initiatives.

The issue could help Democrats gain a Senate majority by attracting low-income constituents who might have otherwise opted out of voting in the elections, said nonpartisan Cook Political Report analyst Jennifer Duffy.

In Alaska, incumbent senator Mark Begich is backed by labor union AFL-CIO, which places the minimum wage initiative at the top of its agenda in its campaign to gain supporters. Alaska's Republican lawmakers tried to head off an initiative and directly pass legislation for the increase but were blocked by Democrats who insisted on having the voters' input instead.

Alaska's GOP had recommended increasing the minimum wage from US$7.75 to US$9.75 in the course of two years. After that, the rate would be adjusted accordingly depending on the inflation.

In 2007, Congress approved the increase of the national wage after successful initiatives in Colorado, Arizona, Montana, Missouri, Nevada and Ohio.

Since last year, six cities and 13 states controlled by Democrats, implemented a wage increase while Seattle has approved the gradual increase of its minimum wage to US$15 per hour by 2021.

National Employment Law Project policy analyst Jack Temple says local and state momentum may be the driving force that could push Congress to deal with the minimum wage issue.

TagsBarack Obama, Republican vs. Democrat, Labor union, Minimum Wage, Ballot initiatives, November elections