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Minimum Wage

Bills Introduced in Congress

Mike Haberman

Democrats, lead by Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MASS)and Representative David Bonier (D-MICH), have reintroduced legislation to raise the current minimum wage. Senate bill S2538 and House bill HR4799 propose to raise the current minimum wage of $5.15 per hour $1.50 over the next three years. The proposal would start with $0.60 increase within two months of enactment, $0.50 on January 1, 2003 and an additional $0.40 on January 1, 2004. This is similar to a proposal that was on the table prior to September 11th, but which was then set aside in order to focus on the national emergency.

Republicans indicate changes would have to be made in small business tax law before they would accept a change in the minimum wage.

OTHER MINIMUM WAGE LAW NEWS
The South Carolina state legislature banned local jurisdictions from setting minimum wage above Federal levels. This was enacted in May 2001