But state efforts are no substitute for a higher federal minimum because the ability to earn a minimally acceptable income should not depend on where a worker lives.
State efforts are inadequate to address this issue.
"If state efforts are not sufficiently robust to protect against the harms set forth above, the federal government may seek to challenge the regulatory structure itself in addition to continuing to bring individual enforcement actions, including criminal prosecutions, focused on those harms".
The states' effort was introduced last week at a meeting of the National Governors Association by Gov. Michael O. Leavitt, above, the Republican governor of Utah, a spokesman for the association said.
Where the big-spending conservative groups active in this year's presidential race had little to show for their millions of dollars, the state efforts were strikingly successful.
In at least a tacit acknowledgment of those issues, Mr. Obama specifically said that the five-state effort is intended to aid homeowners who are out of work and underwater.
Ms. Horton declined to comment about the judge's characterizations of the state's system, but pointed to court filings by the state that contend that the state's efforts are adequate.
These state-led efforts are ongoing.
