Rich Senators Defeat Minimum-Wage Hike

Congressional Pay Rises While Minimum Stays Same

Helen Thomas, Hearst White House columnist

POSTED: 6:12 pm EDT October 26, 2005

U.S. senators -- who draw salaries of $162,100 a year and enjoy a raft of perks -- have rejected a minimum wage hike from $5.15 an hour to $6.25 for blue-collar workers.Can you believe it?The proposed increase was sponsored by Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., and turned down in the Senate by a vote of 51 against the boost and 49 in favor. Under a Senate agreement, it needed 60 votes to pass.All the Democrats voted for the wage boost. All the negative votes were cast by Republicans.