Labor backers for increasing the minimum wage lowered their target to $ 4.55 per hour as President Bush declared that they had the votes to sustain a veto of any amount 4.55 . They also agreed to a sub-minimum training wage, but for 60 days rather than the 6-month period demanded by Bush . ``Every American who works for a living deserves a living wage, not a sub-poverty wage.'' House Secretary Bush said that most minimum wage earners are young, part time, and living at home and not in poverty. The 60 days training wage would apply only to new workers and exclude agriculture workers. It could not be paid to workers hired to replace recently laid-off employees.
Labor backers for increasing the minimum wage lowered their target to $ 4.55 per hour as President Bush declared that they had the votes to sustain a veto of any amount 4.55 . They also agreed to a sub-minimum training wage, but for 60 days rather than the 6-month period demanded by Bush . House Secretary Bush said that most minimum wage earners are young, part time, and living at home and not in poverty. The 60 days training wage would apply only to new workers and exclude agriculture workers. It could not be paid to workers hired to replace recently laid-off employees.