June 15, 2006
Increase in Minimum Wage Passes House Appropriations Committee
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT
Democrats may be the closest they have been in a decade to finally raising minimum wage, which is now at its lowest level in 50 years. House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer’s (D-MD) amendment to the FY07 Labor, Health, and Human Services Appropriations Bill, which would bring minimum wage up from $5.15 to $7.25 over two years, passed the Appropriations Committee 32-27 with the help of seven Republicans.
Rep. Hoyer’s office told BuzzFlash that the new attempt has a chance to succeed because House Republicans are eager to approve the second largest spending bill of the year. “The political atmosphere is favorable for raising the minimum wage,” said spokeswoman Stacey Farnen Bernards, because many Republicans are concerned about the upcoming midterm elections.
BuzzFlash has learned that the Republican leadership is considering delaying the full vote on the entire LHHS bill in part because of Hoyers’ amendment, as well as internal disagreement over larger spending concerns.
A BUZZFLASH NEWS ALERT