Posted on 07/27/2006 3:29:00 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - House Republicans on Thursday were trying to move ahead with legislation to raise the federal minimum wage and to help small businesses lower the cost of health insurance for employees.
"We are 99 percent of the way there," said Rep. Steven LaTourette (news, bio, voting record), an Ohio Republican active in the negotiations.
But LaTourette added it was still uncertain whether a bill would be hurried to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives before it recesses at the end of this week for a long summer break.
Democrats have been pushing to increase the minimum wage, now at $5.15-per-hour, in three 70-cent increments to total $7.25 by January 1, 2009. But they have long opposed Republican versions of bills to allow small businesses to band together to buy insurance while exempting them from many state regulations.
More than two dozen moderate Republicans, many facing difficult re-election efforts in November, have also joined in the effort, forcing House Republican leaders to consider a minimum wage increase that they have opposed for nearly a decade.
Past versions of the small business health insurance incentives have been rejected by the Senate and LaTourette and others provided no details of what was under discussion.
More than two dozen moderate Republicans, many facing difficult re-election efforts in November, have also joined in the effort,,
If they are going to lose it won't be because of 2% of the working population's wage, it will be because of 100% of the working population having to pay $3 a gallon of gas. It may not be their fault but they will be held responsible.
I'm glad that I'm a third party guy. When are you guys going to learn that no matter how you try to buy low income votes it ain't gonna happen?
The best way to convert someone to a conservative is to help him find a good job and show him how his own initiative will make him lots of money.
I sold boiled peanuts at age 8...so I got an early start on understanding the consumer directed economy.
The minimum wage is just another political construct of the left (calling Capt Obvious)!
Boiled Peanuts... MMMMMMMMMM!
More conservative policy out of our boys and girls...
What's next, new statues of Lenin on every corner?
RINOs on the march.
There. All better.
There will be no gridlock without a president willing to veto bills.
God I hate election year legislation. Maybe it would be for the best if Congress just closed for business on January 1 on every election year. Some of the worst legislation and actions by congress ever has come on election years, at least in my memory.
why stop at $10? why not force companies to pay $500 per hour?
WHAT are they thinking?
They aren't thinking. They are trying to neutralize Democrats by trying to be more like them.
Why can't they just make a principled argument to leave it to the states and be done with it? Why do we need a Federal minimum wage? What rational argument is there that the minimum wage should be the same in Nebraska as it is in California?
Very good question. Thanks!
Minimum wage is a starting place...beginning wage. Raising the minimum wage is nothing more than another tax on business which I might add is the fuel that runs the engine of capitolism. All of this is what make our Republic WORK.
It's high time that the Republicans find someone to make the econ 101 case about why increasing the minimum wage increases unemployment and hurts the people it's supposed to help the most, instead of playing defense all the time.
You're right , it will be high gas prices that will be at the forefront of this coming election cycle .
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