ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, April 18, 1996 TAG: 9604180063
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
SOURCE: The Washington Post
Moderate House Republicans on Wednesday broke with their leaders and called for an increase in the minimum wage, and pressure built in the Senate on Majority Leader Bob Dole, R-Kan., to reverse course and schedule a vote on the issue.
``We're looking maybe at some way we can formulate an increase in the minimum wage plus some other amendments the Democrats might not be so crazy about,'' Dole said on ``The Jim Lehrer News Hour.''
In the House, Majority Leader Dick Armey, R-Texas, reiterated his opposition to an increase. But, with Republicans feeling heat from Democratic demands for a vote, many lawmakers said votes in both houses are increasingly likely and approval of the legislation is possible.
Speaker Newt Gingrich, R-Ga., said he did not know whether the issue would be scheduled for a vote. Colleagues said he was exploring ways to avoid further political damage on the issue.
The break in House GOP ranks came when 14 moderates, mostly from Northeastern states, endorsed a $1 increase over two years in the $4.25 wage. President Clinton and Democrats support a 90-cent increase.
``All of us believe that people who work a 40-hour workweek ought to earn a wage they can live on,'' said Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y.
Republicans have thwarted all attempts by Democrats to force a vote in both houses, and on Tuesday Dole abruptly halted work on a bill to curb illegal immigration after Democrats sought to add a proposal to increase the minimum wage and a resolution on Social Security.
Dole is in a pinch because he cannot bring back the immigration bill - or turn to other bills he wants to pass - without facing Democratic demands for a minimum wage vote.
Several GOP senators said Dole is exploring options, including a one-year 45-cent increase, coupled with a variety of GOP proposals such as work requirements for welfare recipients, repeal of Clinton's ban on permanent striker replacement by federal contractors and legislation to curb unions from charging nonunion workers fees for union political activities.
With Republicans holding a majority in the House, moderates hold the balance of power and could give Democrats enough votes to prevail. The same is true in the Senate, where Republicans hold a 53 to 47 edge. In a recent nonbinding vote, 54 senators, including a handful of Republicans, indicated they wanted to vote on the wage issue.
LENGTH: Medium: 52 linesby CNB