MA, RI Governors Joining Obama in Connecticut This Week to 'Raise the Wage'

President Barack Obama's "Raise the Wage" campaign will touch down in Connecticut this week.

Obama will speak at Central Connecticut State University on Wednesday, March 5. The visit is one of many the president is making to garner support for increasing the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.

Obama will be joined at the New Britain campus by Connecticut Gov. Dannel P. Malloy, Massachusetts Gov. Deval L. Patrick, Rhode Island Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee, and Vermont Gov. Peter E. Shumlin. 

Malloy, a Democrat who fell in lockstep with the president andcalled for an increase in the state's minimum wage to $10.10after Obama unveiled the proposal in his State of the Union speech, was at the nation's capitol last week to meet with other governors and Obama. There, Malloy exchanged verbal fisticuffs with Gov. Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, after the Republican criticized Obama's push to increase the minimum wage.

“There is a debate happening across our country on how to tackle the growing income inequality that is detrimental to our middle class families and to our economy," Malloy said. "Part of tackling that critically important challenge is making sure that we recognize that a decent wage is good for workers and good for business.”

“For too long," Malloy continued, "the minimum wage has not kept up with the cost of living."

Malloy announced last week via Twitter that Obama was coming to the state, but he held off on disclosing any details. Confirmation of the president's visit, as well as the venue, were confirmed Saturday.

CCSU also announced the news to the campus community Saturday evening.

"We are honored to announce that on Wednesday, March 5, President Barack Obama will give a speech at the University. An email to the campus community on Monday will provide details about the event, about obtaining tickets to it, and related information."

Malloy said, “I am happy to welcome President Obama and my New England colleagues to Connecticut for the next phase of this incredibly important debate. Working together, we can and will make sure that people who work 40 hours a week don’t live in poverty.”

According to Malloy, studies have shown that the workers who would benefit from a minimum wage increase brought home 46 percent of their household’s total wage and salary income in 2011. 

"When workers earn more money, businesses will have more customers," he said. "This modest boost will help those earning the least to make ends meet.”