A Wall Street Journal editorial states that the US economy generated 1 M new jobs since Congress stopped raising the minimum wage in 1981 . In reality, a minimum wage prices the weakest members of the work force out of jobs. Yet , Organized Labor which supports job creation , makes a strong case for the Kennedy - Hawkins " Minimum Wage Restoration Act " . The Journal fears that Labor Secretary Brock may compromise away with Reagan 's commitment to the minimum wage . Kennedy - Hawkins would raise the wage from $ 3 to $ 4.65 in five years . Senator Quayle has calculated that Democratic projects on minimum wage and health coverage would add $ 1.19 to wage costs at the bottom of the wage scale .
A Wall Street Journal editorial states that the US economy generated 1 M new jobs since Congress stopped raising the minimum wage in 1981 . Yet , Organized Labor which supports job creation , makes a strong case for the Kennedy - Hawkins " Minimum Wage Restoration Act " . The Journal fears that Labor Secretary Brock may compromise away with Reagan 's commitment to the minimum wage . Kennedy - Hawkins would raise the wage from $ 3 to $ 4.65 in five years . Senator Quayle has calculated that Democratic projects on minimum wage and health coverage would add $ 1.19 to wage costs at the bottom of the wage scale .