For the first time in ten years, the House of Representatives voted to raise the salary of someone other than themselves. By a vote of 315-116, congressmen voted to gradually increase the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour. WaPo:
About 1.9 million U.S. workers earn the current minimum wage or less. Adjusted for inflation, the buying power of the minimum wage has fallen to its lowest level in five decades. Twenty-eight states and the District of Columbia have set minimum wages that surpass the federal standard.
The bill is off to the Senate where it's expected Republicans will try to link tax breaks to the legislation. Looks like Speaker Nancy Pelosi's "First 100 Hours" is off to a wonderful start.
This is great news. It's about time.
Posted by: carl | 10 January 2007 at 20:13
The only reason they haven't approved a minimum wage hike is because the Republican Congress and then the Republican Congress and White House were against it.
Now, since Congresss is no longer a rubber stamp, we'll see some movement.
Posted by: CA | 10 January 2007 at 20:31