Senate Passes Minimum Wage Bill, But Attaches $8.3 Billion in Unrelated Tax Give-Aways

February 2, 2007

Yesterday, the Senate overwhelmingly passed the first federal minimum wage increase in ten years to help working Americans struggling to make ends meet. But despite little economic evidence that a higher minimum wage will harm small businesses, the Senate added to the bill over $8 billion in unnecessary tax give-aways with no plan for how to pay for them.  Last month the House passed a fiscally responsible “clean” minimum wage bill that included only limited tax breaks.  The congressional conference committee should follow the House’s approach as it works to deliver this long overdue raise for working families.

Related Links

Senate Passes Wage Bill, But Obstacles Await
(NY Times, 2/2/07)

Living Wage and Minimum Wage Laws
Read the Brennan Center reports on state and city minimum and living wage laws.