WASHINGTON, DC — Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) is proposing that the U.S. Senate consider an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.65 an hour, and would like a vote to be taken on his legislation (S. 2538, “Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2002”) before the August Congressional recess.
Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle (D-SD) said that an increase in the minimum wage is long overdue, but Minority Leader Trent Lott (R-MS) stated that passage of an increase would happen only if amendments were added to include tax cuts aimed at helping small businesses cope with increased labor costs.