House Passes Minimum Wage Increase (1/11/07)

The newly-elected Democratic Congress began to implement its agenda on January 10, voting to raise the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour. The old minimum wage of $5.15 had not risen in 10 years, and inflation had driven it down to its lowest actual buying power in 50 years.
The legislation, which now goes to the Senate, would raise the current $5.15 minimum to $5.85 effective 60 days after the measure became law. The minimum would go to $6.55 a year later and $7.25 a year after that.
All 233 Democrats voted for the minimum wage measure, along with 82 Republicans. All 116 votes in opposition came from Republicans.