Washington ( CNN ) -- Again stepping into the role of compromise-seeker , Sen. Susan Collins of Maine is launching what may be a long-shot effort to forge bipartisan compromise over a minimum wage increase . `` I 'm reaching out to members on both sides of the aisle about whether or not it 's possible , '' the Republican told a handful of reporters Tuesday . `` I do n't know whether it is . '' Collins laid out a possible framework she is floating in initial conversations : . â€¢ Wages : Increase the minimum wage to something higher than the current $ 7.25 an hour , but lower than the $ 10.10 that Democrats want . â€¢ Hours : To bring in more Republicans , raise the number of hours that define `` full-time '' employees under Obamacare . Currently individuals working 30 hours or more are `` full-time '' under the law . â€¢ Small business : Add an extension of small business tax credits . Ryan budget aims to cut $ 5.1 trillion , balance in 10 years . This is the latest example of Collins ' work toward finding space for a deal on large , divisive issues . She made one of the earliest proposals to avoid the government shutdown , spent weeks trying to find agreement on an unemployment benefits extension , and has regularly been a key vote allowing issues to come to the Senate floor . For Collins , $ 7.25 is too low . But , $ 10.10 an hour is just too high . `` I 've talked to employers in Maine who have said they would have to curb hiring and actually have to lay people off with that kind of increase , '' she said , `` but they are open to a more modest increase , they could accommodate that . '' But as Collins tries to find a middle ground , both sides of the debate continue digging in around polar positions . Obama takes minimum wage pitch to Michigan . `` If ( a bill ) includes raising the minimum wage , then it 's a bad idea to put people out of work , '' said Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania . He and many other Republicans cite a Congressional Budget Office report which concluded that a minimum wage increase would cost the country hundreds of thousands of jobs . Toomey was well known for his attempt at compromise over background checks on guns last year , but he insists he is not budging on the minimum wage . `` If you ( increase it ) on a smaller scale , that I suppose makes it less bad , but it 's still bad , '' he said . As Republicans exclaim `` jobs , '' those on the left shout `` poverty . '' `` That minimum wage pay of $ 7.25 an hour is really a starvation wage , '' said Sen. Bernie Sanders , the Vermont independent . He and many Democrats point out that the same CBO report concluded that raising the minimum wage to $ 10.10 would lift 900,000 Americans out of poverty , but a lower increase would have just one-third the effect . He insists he wo n't settle for a penny less than $ 10.10 . `` No , I strongly believe we need to have a $ 10.10 minimum wage . '' Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada took a similar stance in February . And what 's more , Democrats have been unyielding toward many potential changes to Obamacare , including proposals to redefine `` full-time '' employees . That leaves Collins in the middle . Standing by herself outside the Senate doors , she smiled and stuck to her goal statement . `` I 'm trying to see if ( a potential compromise ) could garner sufficient support , '' she told reporters . Reid has said a minimum wage vote could come up in the Senate as soon as next week . Asked for her timeline , Collins shrugged , `` Well , it 's coming up pretty fast . '' Republicans hit a nerve when it comes to Obamacare .
Republican Sen. Susan Collins is looking to see if a deal is possible . Maine senator has a history of trying to find deals on big , divisive issues . Democrats want to raise the minimum wage nearly $ 3 , to $ 10.10 an hour . While it would cause some job cuts , the proposal would boost others from poverty .