LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — Gov. Dave Heineman opposes the ballot measure to increase the minimum wage in Nebraska to $9 an hour by 2016.

Heineman said Monday that he would vote against the minimum wage proposal.

Heineman says he understands it’s difficult to live on a minimum wage salary, but he thinks it’s better to help workers improve their skills through training so they can get better jobs.

Currently, Nebraska’s minimum wage is the same as the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour.

Heineman says he thinks it’s better to keep Nebraska’s minimum wage linked to the federal standard.