Clinton vies for minimum wage increase
Release Date: 09/06/00

President Clinton said Tuesday that the highest priority for Congress should be passing a $1 increase in the hourly minimum wage, rather than trying to corral enough votes to override his veto of a bill repealing the estate tax.

The AP reports that the president huddled with his party's leaders to plot strategy for a fall congressional session, destined to be dominated by the presidential campaign's final stretch.

"They've got a right to try to override any veto that I make. That's the way the Constitution works," Clinton said of the GOP. "But I wish they'd try just as hard to muster up the two-thirds to raise the minimum wage."

The estate tax veto override is a priority for House Republican leaders, who hope Congress will address the issue first when it reconvenes. Beyond that, the GOP has said that if elected, George W. Bush would kill the death tax.

White House spokesman Joe Lockhart said the White House is confident that the estate tax veto and Clinton's previous veto of a tax cut for couples will be sustained.

NFIB has fought hard against the minimum wage increase, and even harder for the death tax veto. The minimum wage legislation, introduced by Rep. Jack Quinn, R-N.Y., would increase the wage by $1 over the next three years and, thereafter, index the minimum wage to the cost of living.

"We are committed to breaking the legislative logjam," Clinton said. "Unfortunately, the strategy pursued by the Republican leaders in Congress, I believe, would squander (the surplus) on massive and reckless tax cuts for the privileged few. This isn't fiscally responsible. It isn't fair."

Lockhart said Clinton -- with no campaign of his own and little time left in office -- is willing to devote his full attention to budget negotiations, even if they spill over into the campaign's final stretch.

"If Congress can't get their work done by Oct. 1, we're not going any place," Lockhart said. "We'll stay here through Election Day if need be."

9.06.00

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