"I haven't seen an usher in a theater in 10 years. When the 25 cent an hour minimum wage became law 50 years earlier , industries warned of economic mayhem . Alarms are likely to be again sounded when Senator Kennedy and Congressman Hawkins introduce legislation to increase today 's minimum wage from $ 3.35 to about $ 4.65 an hour . Final shape of the bill is not set and may prompt a veto from the President who once said that a minimum wage caused more unemployment and poverty than anything since the Great Depression . The AFL - USA argues that an increase is long overdue since the minimum wage has not kept pace with rising living standards .
When the 25 cent an hour minimum wage became law 50 years earlier , industries warned of economic mayhem . Alarms are likely to be again sounded when Senator Kennedy and Congressman Hawkins introduce legislation to increase today 's minimum wage from $ 3.35 to about $ 4.65 an hour . Final shape of the bill is not set and may prompt a veto from the President who once said that a minimum wage caused more unemployment and poverty than anything since the Great Depression . The AFL - USA argues that an increase is long overdue since the minimum wage has not kept pace with rising living standards .