As of July 1st, Minnesotans could be looking at their first minimum wage increase since 1997. Currently set at $5.15, the state Senate vote in favor of increasing the minimum wage to $6.10 by July 2005, with a second increase to $7 an hour in July 2006. It is now up to the House and Gov. Tim Pawlenty to cast their votes. Two Republicans crossed party lines to vote in favor of the increase with Senate Democrats. Nearly 50,000 Minnesotans currently make minimum wage. Only fifteen states currently have a minimum wage higher than that of the federal standard of $5.15 an hour.