Democratic Governor Janet Mills of Maine vetoed legislation on Wednesday that would have mandated a $13.80 hourly minimum wage for farmworkers. While expressing support for the principle, Gov. Mills cited concerns regarding the bill's specific wording as the reason for her veto. The Maine legislature will have the opportunity to override the veto in the coming week.
The bill, championed by House Speaker Rachel Talbot Ross, aimed to include farmworkers under Maine's annually adjusted minimum wage law. An amendment added during the legislative process also granted farmworkers overtime pay. In her veto message, Gov. Mills explained that revisions made at her request did not fully address her concerns about the breadth and implications of the bill's language.
Talbot Ross criticized the governor's decision, accusing her of leveraging her authority to perpetuate wage disparities among Maine residents. She emphasized that the amended legislation simply sought to ensure farmworkers received the same minimum wage as other workers in the state, recognizing the demanding nature of their labor. She argued that those harvesting food deserve fair compensation comparable to workers in other sectors.
Gov. Mills indicated her intention to issue an executive order to reinstate a stakeholder group for a more thorough examination of the issue. This group's objective would be to achieve a consensus on implementing a minimum wage for farmworkers. The governor plans to introduce her own bill next year based on the group's findings.
