By KEVIN FREKING, Associated Press Writer 24 minutes ago
WASHINGTON - It looks like full steam ahead for a significant boost to the federal minimum wage when Democrats assume control of Congress in January.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record) of Massachusetts said Thursday that increasing the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 would be his top priority as chairman of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions.
On the House side, incoming Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., already has listed an increase in the minimum wage as one of the issues that would be taken up during the first 100 hours of the next Congress.
"Americans are working harder than ever, but millions of hardworking men and women across the country aren't getting their fair share," Kennedy said during a speech outlining his legislative agenda for next year. "We're not rewarding work fairly anymore, and working families are falling behind."
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