House Votes to Raise
Minimum Wage
By CARL HULSE,
NYTimes on the Web, January 10, 2007
WASHINGTON, -- The House of
Representatives overwhelmingly approved an increase in the minimum hourly wage
to $7.25 this afternoon in a vote that Democrats hailed as an overdue raise for
low-income workers and a symbol of new leadership on Capitol Hill.
Democrats, who during their successful campaign attacked Republicans for
accepting pay raises for themselves while refusing to raise the minimum wage
from $5.15 for almost a decade, said the increase for hard-pressed employees was
a sharp contrast to the tax cuts for the affluent approved under Republican
rule.
“This is a day for the people who empty the bed pans, change the bed linens,
sweep the floors and do the hard work of America,” said Representative Rob
Andrews, Democrat of New Jersey, before the measure passed in a 315-to-116 vote.
More than 80 Republican joined all Democrats in support of the $2.10-an-hour
increase, which would be phased in over three years.
Several Republicans spoke out against the Democratic proposal — a centerpiece of
the party’s 100-hour domestic legislative agenda — on the grounds that it was
intruding in the marketplace and would ultimately deny opportunities to those
trying to enter the work force since it could decrease the number of jobs.
But a significant number of Republicans supported the plan, which is likely to
be adjusted when it comes up in the Senate.
“Let’s not trample on the market but recognize that nine years is long enough,”
said Representative Zach Wamp, Republican of Tennessee.
The Senate is expected to take up the bill in coming weeks, but leaders of both
parties say the increase is likely to be tied to tax breaks for small businesses
in order to win the 60 votes needed to cut off debate. But if the measure
clears Congress, it stands a good chance of being signed into law by President
Bush and would mark a major victory for Congressional Democrats.
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