The Nation - News from March 23, 1989

The House debated legislation to raise the minimum wage, with Democrats who long have sought an increase praising President Bush for supporting a raise but saying the amount he has suggested is too low. “It is the first positive sign of cooperation on this issue that we have seen in eight years between the White House and the Congress,” said Rep. Austin J. Murphy (D-Pa.), who managed the floor debate for the Democrats. “Democrats and Republicans have made an honest effort to work out our differences.” The Democratic-controlled chamber is expected to vote on the measure today. The legislation would raise the minimum wage from its current level of $3.35 an hour to $4.65 by 1992, but Murphy plans to offer an amendment today scaling back the final target to $4.55.