HOUSE BILL INCREASES MINIMUM WAGE AND AML FUND, EXTENDS SALES TAX DEDUCTION
Davis secures increase in Tennessee's share of AML fund July 29, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis is hopeful the Senate will be able to work with a House passed bill that raises the federal minimum wage, extends provisions allowing Tennesseans to deduct their sales taxes from federal tax returns and teachers to deduct out-of-pocket expenses, and increases Tennessee's abandoned mine land fund share.

"I supported these efforts because Tennessee families will be greatly aided by the legislative items passed by the House in this bill," Davis said. "However, there is doubt by some that the Senate will be able to accept this bill due to some 'poison pills' as several Members have called them. I wish the House Republican leaders would have permitted these important bills to be passed separately so we could have clean legislation all sides could agree on."

Republican leaders in Congress failed to allow an up or down vote on the Fair Minimum Wage Act. Instead of allowing a vote as a stand alone bill, two pieces of legislation were attached knowing it would make for tougher passage in the Senate. The Fair Minimum Wage Act was "packaged" together with a bill permanently repealing the estate tax and another extending certain expiring tax provisions. Each bill, as a separate piece of legislation, has its merits, but when packaged together it may make for an unacceptable compromise in the Senate where the permanent repeal of the estate tax has already been defeated.

"I have fought hard to increase Tennessee's share of the abandoned mine land fund and to bring parity to Tennessee taxpayers," Davis said. "My hope is that both bodies of Congress will end the partisan games and start helping our constituents- the American people."

Davis has been working since 2003 to increase Tennessee's share of the abandoned mine land fund. Currently, the state receives between $1 million to $1.5 million a year to reclaim our high priority abandoned mines. The reclamation corrects a wide array of public health and safety hazards. Davis was able to increase the annual amount to $3 million.

Under this legislation, the federal minimum wage will be increased to $7.25 an hour Davis noted.