Information about the vote from special interest groups and other information providers in our Report Cards:
American Conservative Union
Minimum Wage.
The Senate rejected an amendment raising the federal minimum wage up to $7.25 per hour.AFL-CIO
MINIMUM WAGE.
The federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been raised since 1997. Because of inflation, its purchasing power is at its lowest level in 51 years. However, since 1997, Congress has raised its own pay eight times for a total of $31,600, almost three times the annual income of full-time minimum wage workers—another $3,300 a year raise is due in January. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over 26 months. The Kennedy amendment failed.Americans for Democratic Action
S 2766. Fiscal 2007 Defense Authorization/Minimum Wage.
Kennedy (D-MA) amendment to raise the federal minimum wage to $5.85/ hour 60 days after the bill's enactment, to $6.55/hour 12 months later and, to $7.25hour the following year.Republican Liberty Caucus (Economic Liberty)
S. 2766 / S.Amdt. 4322.
Defense Auth/to raise the federal minimum wage.National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Kennedy Amdt. No. 4322; To increase the Federal minimum wage.
Kennedy Amendment No. 4322, to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage. Though the amendment received a majority of votes, it failed to garner the necessary 60 votes.International Brotherhood of Boilermakers
Federal Minimum Wage.
S. 2766—The federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour has not been raised since 1997. Because of inflation, its purchasing power is at its lowest level in 51 years. However, since 1997, Congress has raised its own pay eight times for a total of $31,600, almost three times the annual income of full-time minimum wage workers—another $3,300 a year raise is likely later this year. Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization bill to increase the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 over 26 months.American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees
Raise for Low-Income Wage Earners.
The Senate rejected an amendment by Sen.
Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.) to the fiscal year
2007 Defense Authorization bill (S. 2766) that
would raise the federal minimum wage from
$5.15 to $7.25 over 26 months. Because the
minimum wage has not been raised since 1997,
the federal minimum wage of $5.15 an hour
has lost its buying power and is inadequate to
support a family.Children's Defense Fund Action Council
Increasing the Minimum Wage, S. 2766 amendment no. 4322.
Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA) offered an amendment to the fiscal year 2007 Defense Authorization bill to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour phased in over 26 months. Congress has not increased the minimum wage for workers for almost ten years while raising its own pay eight times.
In 2005, more than 70 percent of poor children lived in working households but a full-time minimum-wage employee's salary of $10,712 a year (for a family of three), is $5,888 below the 2006 federal poverty level. The minimum wage has not been increased for nearly a decade, during which time the cost of living increased 26 percent. The amendment was rejected.
Service Employees International Union
Senate Support for Minimum Wage Increase Grows.
While still falling short of victory, this week’s effort to raise the minimum wage for millions of Americans picked up double the Republican support it carried in the past. For the past decade, the minimum wage has remained stagnant at $5.15 per hour. The Fair Minimum Wage Act would have increased the minimum wage to $7.25 over two years. This may have been the only opportunity this year to raise the minimum wage and help millions of minimum wage workers get a raise. Republicans Chafe (RI), Coleman (MN), Collins (ME), Snowe (ME), DeWine (OH), Lugar (IN), Specter (PA), and Warner (VA) joined all Senate Democrats in supporting this amendment.The John Birch Society
Minimum Wage.
Senator TedKennedy (D-Mass.) offered this amendment to the Defense authorization bill (S. 2766). If implemented, the amendment would increase the national minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25/hour within the next two years. Although a minimum wage increase sounds like an easy way to alleviate poverty in this country, it actually raises poverty. This is true because companies can not afford to hire entry-level workers and train them for careers; companies are forced to lay off workers they presently have on staff; and additional people are added to the welfare roles. In our opinion it is unconstitutional for the government to prohibit citizens from working for less than a governmentset price.
Americans for Tax Reform
Kennedy Amdt. No. 4322; To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in Federal min. wage.
To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.The Club for Growth
S. 2766 - Minimum Wage Hike.
Vote on Kennedy amendment no. 4322 to increase the federal minimum wage. Price controls lead to distortions in the labor markets and create fewer jobs. It also denies many new or lower-skilled workers the first step on the economic ladder. This amendment was defeated.