House backers for raising 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 training wage would initially be $3.35 an hour but would increase to 85 percent of the subsequent increases in the minimum wage. The 60 day 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 .
House backers for raising 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 60 day 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 .