AUGUSTA -- The House and Senate gave initial approval Friday to an increase in the minimum wage from $7 an hour to $7.50 an hour over a two-year period.

The measure, sponsored by Sen. Ethan Strimling, D-Portland, faces further votes. Gov. John Baldacci supports raising the minimum wage, but needs to review the final language of this particular bill before taking a position, said his spokesman David Farmer.

During Senate debate, Sen. Dana Dow, R-Waldoboro, said the state needs to do more to help struggling families than increase the minimum wage. "I'm not going to vote for policies that are a Band-Aid on a gaping wound," he said.

But Strimling said the 25 cent an hour initial raise will mean an extra $500 a year for women and families.

"When you raise the minimum wage, you raise people out of poverty," he said. Strimling said although most people think teens hold the majority of minimum wage jobs, 75 percent of minimum wage earners are 19 years old or older.

Several members of the Senate debated the issue, with Republicans arguing against the increase and Democrats arguing for it. The 18-17 vote to pass the bill was along party lines.

Assistant Senate Minority Leader Richard Rosen, R-Bucksport, said the state should study whether minimum wage increases lift people out of poverty. He said statistics in the most recent Kids Count report -- an annual report released by the Maine Children's Alliance -- shows there are more children living in poverty now than there were in 2003.

On the other side, Sen. Nancy Sullivan, D-Biddeford, said the extra 25 cents an hour will make a big difference to single mothers raising children.

The minimum wage in Maine increased to $7 an hour in October. Strimling's bill would increase the minimum to $7.25 later this year and $7.50 in 2009.

House members kept the debate brief, with both sides saying they knew the outcome of the vote before it was taken. Democrats control the House by a solid margin, holding 90 seats while Republicans hold 59.

Rep. Brian Duprey, R-Hampden, said as a business owner, he wants to be able to set the wages for his workers. He said increases mandated by the state mean he has to reward employees who don't deserve it, while being unable to give a bigger raise to those who do.

"Every 25 cent increase costs me $25,000 a year," he said.

Rep. John Tuttle, D-Sanford, said the increase will still not be enough for many workers.

"I think the minimum wage is still well below a livable wage in Maine," he said.

The House voted 77-58 on the bill, largely along party lines.

Susan Cover -- 623-1056

scover@centralmaine.com