At a time when many states and localities are increasing the minimum wage, New Hampshire’s Senate passed a bill that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $12 per hour by 2022.  The very next day, New Hampshire Governor Chris Sununu vetoed the bill. In doing so, Governor Sununu issued a veto message that said the bill would have a “detrimental effect” on the state’s residents and would lead to lost jobs, reduced hours, and less money in the pockets of employees.

Governor Sununu boasted that New Hampshire has the lowest poverty rate in the country, along with one of the lowest unemployment rates and some of the highest wages in the country. “In 2018, only 0.0015% of Granite Staters earned a minimum wage or less,” he said. “New Hampshire’s economy is booming, and I will do everything in my power to ensure we continue that trend, not hinder it.”

Governor Sununu’s veto message will likely provide New Hampshire’s employers with some peace of mind. The state is unlikely to see the minimum wage hikes that are currently trending throughout the rest of the country, at least through the end of this gubernatorial term.