Educate Me. Question #1: Why can't the minimum wage increase fly alone?

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Sunday February 18, 2007 · 5:45 PM PST

2007/02/18 · 17:45

I figure there are some marvelous heads out there, including sitting members of Congress. So I hereby launch a time and again series to answer questions that roll around in my head, hoping the wisdom of this crowd can enlighten.

I seem to recall vaguely-anyone know the specifics?- that the republicans, when they controlled both chambers, seemed to conveniently lose some of the democratic senate minority wishes of senate bills when "hammering out" the details to dovetail with similar legislation from the republican house in CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (Thanks, guys.. I edited the diary to not get sidetracked on remembering the name of the conference committee). So...

As I said, I seem to recall being miffed, reading the news one day and realizing that between the republicans in the Senate and House, the Democratic concessions to certain bills over the last few years were negotiated out of existence, to "reconcile" the Senate bill with the House one in conference committee. Hardball.

So I got to wondering, is it possible for the House to pass a bill, let's say, a STAND ALONE bill that increases the minimum wage, and the Senate to pass one that includes a republican tax reduction for business, and then the CONFERENCE COMMITTEE to just forward the minimum wage increase to the White House to sign or veto? Could they include the tax break, but lessen it substantially, or make narrow constraints for only mom and pop business?

Just wondering. Answers, anyone?

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