There is an effort by Nebraskans for Better Wages to launch a petition drive to gather signatures in order to put a measure on the November ballot that would increase the state’s minimum wage to $9 an hour by 2016. Lincoln  Senator Danielle Conrad supports the idea and says states need to take the lead on this issue because the federal government is doing nothing.

Conrad says states that have increased the minimum wage have not seen an increase in costs or a reduction in work force.

Omaha State Senator Jeremy Nordquist also supports the increase.