January 30,2007

Baucus Comments on Minimum Wage Cloture Vote

Finance Committee chairman calls for swift passage of amendment to HR 2

Washington, DC – Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus (D-Mont.) issued the following statement after today’s 87-10 vote by the Senate to proceed to consideration of his amendment to H.R. 2, a bill providing a minimum wage increase to America’s workers. Baucus worked with his Finance Committee colleagues to craft a bipartisan package of small business tax incentives that would allow minimum wage legislation to move forward in the Senate. That legislation, the Small Business and Work Opportunity Act of 2007, is part of the pending “Baucus amendment” to H.R. 2.

“Today’s vote brings America’s workers one step closer to the wage increase they deserve. Once the Senate approves this minimum wage bill, I’m confident we’ll work out an agreement between the Senate and the House to move it into law. Even though we’re taking different paths to passing legislation, we’re all working for the same thing: a fairer wage for America’s workers. I believe that at the same time, we can and we must help small businesses that employ minimum wage workers, too. The goal now must be to get this wage increase on the ground for workers who need it.”

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