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| Centrists Urge Raising Minimum Wage without Delay |
February 12, 2007 |
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Wilson: Senate Version is Fastest Path to Pay Increase for Affected Workers
Washington, DC - Congresswoman Heather Wilson, working with other centrists in the U.S. House of Representatives, today urged Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) to accept the Senate bill raising the minimum wage for American workers without unnecessary delay.
Wilson, who supported the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 2) that passed the House 315-166 on January 10, said House approval of the Senate version of the plan is the fastest way to implement the change. The Senate bill includes some tax relief measures for the small businesses that create most new jobs and will bear the cost of the minimum wage increase.
Under both the House and Senate bills, the minimum wage would go to $5.85 an hour 60 days after enactment, then increase again to $6.55 an hour 12 months later, reaching $7.25 an hour after two years.
“The timing is right for a minimum wage increase,” Wilson said. “I prefer the balanced Senate approach that also strengthens our small businesses. House passage of the Senate bill is the fastest path to an increase in the minimum wage.”
Wilson said the proposal makes sense for the small businesses that drive the economy, create most new jobs and bear the cost of the minimum wage change. Government cannot create wealth, but it can create the conditions for people to invest and create jobs, she said.
Letter text attached below:
Honorable Nancy Pelosi
Speaker of the House of Representatives
H-232 the Capitol
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Madam Speaker:
We are writing today to express our support for House consideration of the Senate amendment to H.R. 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act. This legislation would raise the minimum wage and provide small businesses with incentives to keep our economy growing.
We believe it is past due for a raise in the minimum wage, which is why many of us joined in supporting a stand-alone minimum wage bill in the House. It is clear after the Senate failed to invoke cloture on the House version of the legislation, a minimum wage increase must be combined with a package of tax relief for small businesses in order to pass in that body. As you may know, the combined minimum wage and small business tax package passed the Senate by an overwhelmingly bipartisan vote of 94 to 3.
While we hear that Chairman Rangel is assembling a small business tax package, we believe considering the Senate amendment is the quickest and most effective means of giving low-income workers a pay increase. Workers who make $10,700 per year while working 40 hours a week do not care if a bill to increase their wages originates in the House or Senate, or if such legislation includes tax incentives for their employers. They simply care if their wages are raised.
Madam Speaker, we believe it is time the minimum wage is increased and a bipartisan solution is within reach. We urge you to bring this compromise package to the House floor for a vote and raise the minimum wage without further delay.
Sincerely,
Christopher Shays
Member of Congress
Steven C. LaTourette
Member of Congress
Timothy V. Johnson
Member of Congress
Todd Platts
Member of Congress
Heather Wilson
Member of Congress
Peter Roskam
Member of Congress
cc: The Honorable Steny Hoyer
The Honorable John Boehner
The Honorable Charles Rangel
The Honorable Jim McCrery
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