The Senate voted on Wednesday to defeat a bill that would have raised the minimum wage for the first time in almost 10 years. The final vote was 52-46, eight short of the 60 votes needed to pass the legislation.
43 Democrats, eight Republicans and one Independent voted in favor of the legislation. All 46 votes against it were cast by Republicans.
Had it passed, the proposal would have raised the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour in three stages. The federal minimum wage has remained at $5.15 per hour since 1997.
'I don't think the Republicans get it,' said Senator Edward M. Kennedy, (D-Mass.) who voted in favor of the proposal. 'Our failure to act is a moral outrage. Today's minimum wage is not a just wage. The people who earn the minimum wage are being exploited and that is wrong.'
Republicans who voted against the increase said it was bad for business. 'This is a classic debate between two different philosophies, claimed Senator Johnny Isakson (R-Georgia). 'One philosophy believes in the marketplace, competition and entrepreneurship, and the second is a philosophy that says government knows best.'
Republicans introduced an alternative proposal that would have raised the minimum wage by $1.10 but would have allowed a provision for flextime workers and some tax relief for small businesses. That was defeated by 53-45, 15 votes short of the number needed for passage.
The 60 vote requirement was agreed to on an earlier procedural vote.
