Wage Law

In April, the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate passed a bill to raise the federal minimum wage from the $5.15 to $7.25 in three steps: $5.85 per hour 60 days after the bill is signed; $6.55 per hour one year later; and $7.25 per hour two years later. The bill was vetoed by President Bush on May 1 because it was attached to the Iraq war spending bill that included terms opposed by the White House.

Now, another Iraq spending bill has passed both houses of Congress, and it includes the same minimum wage increases. President Bush has announced that he will sign the bill today. This link on CNN has a video link of the president's comments about the bill, including his intention to sign it. Senators Clinton and Obama voted against the bill, but it had broad bipartisan support, passing by nearly a 2-1 margin in the House and more than a 5-1 margin in the Senate.