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| US Senate to vote on minimum wage as political row rages | US Senate to vote on minimum wage as political row rages |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The US Senate is set to hold a vote on a rise in the national minimum wage, as Democrats and Republicans stake out positions ahead of November's election. | The US Senate is set to hold a vote on a rise in the national minimum wage, as Democrats and Republicans stake out positions ahead of November's election. |
| Republicans are expected to block the Democratic-backed proposal to increase it to $10.10 (£5.99) from $7.25. | |
| They say that would be unaffordable for employers and would cost jobs, while Democrats accuse the Republicans of taking sides against poor workers. | |
| In recent months several states have passed their own minimum wage rises. | In recent months several states have passed their own minimum wage rises. |
| 'Give America a raise' | 'Give America a raise' |
| On Tuesday, Hawaii's state legislature raised the state's minimum wage to $10.10, a level recommended by the Obama administration. | On Tuesday, Hawaii's state legislature raised the state's minimum wage to $10.10, a level recommended by the Obama administration. |
| It joins a number of states and municipalities that have recently approved rises in their base hourly wages. Earlier in April, Minnesota went from having one of the nation's lowest minimum wages to the highest. | It joins a number of states and municipalities that have recently approved rises in their base hourly wages. Earlier in April, Minnesota went from having one of the nation's lowest minimum wages to the highest. |
| "This important step in Hawaii is yet another sign that the American people support raising the minimum wage, and I urge Republicans in Congress to follow Hawaii's lead and lift wages for 28 million Americans," President Barack Obama said in a statement. | "This important step in Hawaii is yet another sign that the American people support raising the minimum wage, and I urge Republicans in Congress to follow Hawaii's lead and lift wages for 28 million Americans," President Barack Obama said in a statement. |
| "With a Senate vote on this crucial issue planned for today, it's time for Republicans in Congress to listen to the majority of Americans who say it's time to give America a raise." | "With a Senate vote on this crucial issue planned for today, it's time for Republicans in Congress to listen to the majority of Americans who say it's time to give America a raise." |
| Democratic leaders have joined Mr Obama in pushing the rise as an election-year issue. | Democratic leaders have joined Mr Obama in pushing the rise as an election-year issue. |
| "Millions of American workers will be watching how each senator votes today," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. "To them, it's a matter of survival." | "Millions of American workers will be watching how each senator votes today," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said. "To them, it's a matter of survival." |
| Republicans in the Senate and the House maintain the proposal is too expensive for businesses and would result in job cuts. | |
| "Washington Democrats' true focus these days seems to be making the far left happy, not helping the middle class," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said ahead of the vote. | "Washington Democrats' true focus these days seems to be making the far left happy, not helping the middle class," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said ahead of the vote. |
| The president's Democratic Party is facing a potential loss of control of the Senate in November, when one-third of its 100 senators are up for re-election. | |
| In the upcoming campaign, Democrats hope to use the minimum wage fight to portray themselves as the guardians of working people and the middle class and the Republicans as the party of the wealthy, analysts say. | In the upcoming campaign, Democrats hope to use the minimum wage fight to portray themselves as the guardians of working people and the middle class and the Republicans as the party of the wealthy, analysts say. |
| Industry opposition | Industry opposition |
| The Senate bill, sponsored by Iowa Democrat Tom Harkin, would increase the federal minimum wage to $10.10 over the course of 30 months and then provide automatic increases for inflation. | |
| Opponents of the rise cite a study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimating the law would result in the loss of about 500,000 jobs. | Opponents of the rise cite a study by the non-partisan Congressional Budget Office estimating the law would result in the loss of about 500,000 jobs. |
| But the same study also anticipated as many as 16 million poor workers would see a substantial pay rise. | But the same study also anticipated as many as 16 million poor workers would see a substantial pay rise. |
| The bill is opposed by a host of industry groups, including the National Council of Chain Restaurants and the International Franchise Association, and well-funded conservative political organisations. | The bill is opposed by a host of industry groups, including the National Council of Chain Restaurants and the International Franchise Association, and well-funded conservative political organisations. |
| On Wednesday, the Senate is holding a procedural vote to end debate on the legislation. That requires 60 votes, and while Democrats control the Senate, they would need six Republicans to join them to advance the bill. | On Wednesday, the Senate is holding a procedural vote to end debate on the legislation. That requires 60 votes, and while Democrats control the Senate, they would need six Republicans to join them to advance the bill. |
| Congress has raised the minimum wage about once every decade but has not previously connected it to inflation. The wage's purchasing power has dropped significantly with inflation from its peak in 1968. |