House 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 over $4.25. ``There's enough votes in our grasp here to see that we don't bust the budget and increase the pressures on inflation by going beyond that which the secretary and I have agreed on,'' They also agreed to a sub-minimum training wage, but for 60 days rather than the 6-month period demanded by Bush. Labor Secretary Dole said that most minimum wage earners are young, part time, and living at home and not in poverty. The Senate passed its version on June 30, with only one Republican voting against it. It could not be paid to workers hired to replace recently laid-off employees.
House 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 over $4.25. They also agreed to a sub-minimum training wage, but for 60 days rather than the 6-month period demanded by Bush. Labor Secretary Dole said that most minimum wage earners are young, part time, and living at home and not in poverty. The Senate passed its version on June 30, with only one Republican voting against it. It could not be paid to workers hired to replace recently laid-off employees.