Copyright 2000 Chicago Sun-Times, Inc.
Chicago
Sun-Times
February 02, 2000, WEDNESDAY, FINAL
MARKETS
SECTION: NEWS; Pg. 3
LENGTH: 264 words
HEADLINE:
Senate OKs wage hike; Dems win abortion fight
BYLINE:
BY MARCY GORDON
DATELINE: WASHINGTON
BODY:
The Senate today passed legislation to raise
the $ 5.15-an-hour minimum wage by a dollar while reducing people's ability to
sweep away credit card and other debts through bankruptcy.
The 83-14
vote was on a broad bankruptcy overhaul bill that also would give new tax breaks
to small businesses and increase penalties for powder cocaine crimes. The House
has passed a similar but narrower bankruptcy bill; the Clinton administration
opposes both versions.
The vote culminated several hours of drama in
which Democrats summoned Vice President Al Gore to break a possible tie vote on
an abortion-rights measure. Republicans dropped their opposition to the
amendment upon Gore's arrival at the Capitol.
The bill would raise the
minimum wage to $ 6.15 an hour over three years, a span that Democrats and
President Clinton say is too long. They also object to $ 76 billion in tax
breaks over 10 years that Republicans maintain would help small businesses deal
with the impact of raising the wage floor. The House has taken no action on a
minimum wage increase, but Republican leaders have promised a vote before
November's election.
Earlier today, the Senate voted 80-17 to prohibit
people found to have violated laws protecting abortion clinics
from using bankruptcy proceedings to escape fines and civil
judgments.
The amendment's sponsor, Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) cited
the case of Operation Rescue founder Randall Terry, who filed for bankruptcy
court protection in November 1998, blaming heavy debts owed to women's groups
and abortion clinics that have sued him.
GRAPHIC:
ASSOCIATED PRESS
LOAD-DATE: February 04, 2000
