April 30 (Bloomberg) — Senate Republicans blocked legislation to raise the federal minimum wage as the chamber's Democrats pledged to hold more votes on the measure before November's election.
The Senate, by a 54-42 vote with 60 required, lacked support to advance the bill, which would increase the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour from $7.25. President Barack Obama called for the increase in his State of the Union address in January, and today the administration said in a statement it "strongly supports" the Senate bill.
"Millions of American workers will be watching how each senator votes," Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat, said on the Senate floor before the vote. "For Republicans, this vote will demonstrate whether they truly care about the economy."
Raising the minimum wage is a central element of congressional Democrats' election-year focus on income inequality, an issue they say resonates with voters and will help them keep control of the chamber. Republicans must gain a net six seats in November to take a majority in the Senate.
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