PROVIDENCE — Rhode Island's minimum wage would rise from $11.50 an hour today to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2025, under legislation approved by the House on Thursday. The final vote was 57-to-16 after a debate in which the House Republican Leader Blake Filippi — who voted nay — acknowledged he cannot imagine how anyone can survive on the current $11.50 an hour. "But I also know this will hurt businesses,'' he said, blaming federal monetary policy "that creates money out of thin air, gives it to rich people" and drives up "the price of everything." The counter-argument from House Majority Leader Christopher Blazejewski: "Putting Rhode Islanders on a path to a $15 hour minimum is good for workers. It's good for families and it's good for our economy."