CNN/AP: House Democrats eye raising federal minimum wage: Second bill since taking control

[DeepModem Mom]

House Democrats eye raising federal minimum wage
January 10, 2007

WASHINGTON (AP) -- After not budging for 10 years, the federal minimum wage could be going up, increasing paychecks for hundreds of thousands of janitors, fast food clerks and other workers at the bottom of the wage scale.

As their second bill since taking control of Congress, House Democrats moved toward passing legislation Wednesday that would boost the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over 26 months. It's one of their top priorities.

Organized labor and other supporters pitched the bill as coming to the aid of the working poor. Business groups and other opponents said it could lead to higher prices for goods and services, force small companies to pink-slip existing workers or hire fewer new ones, and crimp profits.

The bill would raise the wage floor in three steps. It would go to $5.85 an hour 60 days after signed into law by the president, to $6.55 an hour a year later, and to $7.25 an hour a year after that.

"Minimum wage workers desperately need a raise," said Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat, author of the legislation. "If we truly value work, then we have to ensure that it is fairly rewarded," he said.

President Bush said he supports a wage boost paired with "targeted tax and regulatory relief" to help businesses -- which would have to pay for the higher labor costs -- stay competitive. As currently written, the House bill doesn't include any such tax or regulatory breaks....

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/minimum.wage.ap/index.html

[Seldona]

1. Outstanding.

The Democratic Party has done more actual work in the first 10 hours than the former controlling party in the last 4 years. Definitely a breath of fresh air.

k&r

[denverbill]

2. I wonder if they have enough votes to override a veto?

I know some Republicans will support this too. I don't know wtf 'tax and regulatory relief' businesses need. Any increase in their cost will be passed on to consumers like they do with every other cost increase. Sounds like another excuse to give fatcats more tax breaks.

[Drum]

3. 26 months...two years and 2 months.

Long overdue, it's true, but that kind of implementation timetable is nothing to crow about.
:shrug:

[WindRavenX]

4. fantastic news!

:)