As he signed the bill, Gray was surrounded by council members — including four running against him in the Democratic primary — who had been much more aggressive about supporting the minimum wage hike. They included Vincent Orange (D-At Large), who shepherded the bill to a council vote, and Tommy Wells (D-Ward 6), who introduced his own “living wage for all” bill earlier this year.

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While Gray called for a minimum wage increase in September — on the day he vetoed a council bill mandating a special minimum wage for big retail chains — he refrained from endorsing any particular rate and called for months of study before moving forward with any hike. Only on the eve of council action did he endorse a $10 an hour rate, which would have been higher than the $9.50 rate expected to take effect this July, but would have fallen behind a year later, when the rate moves to $10.50.

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Gray made little mention of his earlier hesitance after signing the bill Wednesday: “We want to move this forward, and I was delighted to be able to sign it,” he said.

He also said the wage study he commissioned last year will proceed and could still have an impact. The Urban Institute is set to deliver its findings in the coming weeks, and Gray said he was particularly keen to find out what they conclude about the potential for the higher minimum wage to attract more workers living outside the District, thus displacing taxpaying city residents. There “may be legislative remedies we can entertain” to address that, he said.

Orange, who stood directly behind Gray during the signing, said it “felt great” to see the bill he backed become law. But he said, with the talk of studies and such, he did not see the same level of excitement with Hizzoner.