Minimum Wage

After refusing for months to criticize Republican Rep. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr., 2nd District Democratic challenger Connie Galiazzo DeJuliis has gone on the attack.Twice in recent days she has criticized Ehrlich by name, pointing to his support of Medicare cuts and his vote against the minimum-wage increase -- a measure that passed by a 354-72 vote.The freshman incumbent said he was surprised only that the attacks didn't start sooner."She has to go negative," Ehrlich said, contending that DeJuliis trails him badly.

WASHINGTON -- As Republican leaders grudgingly moved toward consideration of a minimum-wage increase yesterday, Vice President Al Gore predicted that Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole "will cave to pressure" and agree to an increase sought by Democrats."

WASHINGTON -- It's no secret that President Clinton in pushing in this election year for an increase in the hourly minimum wage has more than the American working stiff's interests at heart. With Congress in the hands of the Republicans, the effort is a no-lose situation politically for him -- either the Republicans swallow hard and pass it, or they reject it and enable the president to paint them as the hard-hearted enemies of Joe Sixpack.The Republicans, recognizing that the president and fellow Democrats have done such a good public-relations job in selling the minimum-wage boost that they may have to go along, first countered with an offer to bring up the proposal as part of a package including two other provisions -- repeal of the 4.3 cent gas tax and passage of a bill, vigorously opposed by organized labor, known as the TEAM Act.Before this tentative counterproposal was crafted by the Republicans, Bob Dole as Senate majority leader pointedly observed that any minimum-wage legislation brought to the Senate floor would have ''some other features of an amendment that the Democrats might not be so crazy about,'' and the TEAM Act was an example.

WASHINGTON -- The final Republican tumble to President Clinton on the fiscal 1996 budget, ending seven months of bickering marked by two government shutdowns, is an exclamation point to a remarkable political turnaround since the GOP takeover of Congress only 18 months ago.The Republican concessions on money for education, environmental cleanup, crime-fighting and job training underscore Mr. Clinton's upper hand in the drawn-out budgetary process, once...

New Brunswick, N.J. -- THE HARD edge of the new congressional leadership's "Contract With America" is slowly being unveiled for all to see.For example, it wasn't sufficient for Rep. Dick Armey, a Texas Republican and the House majority leader, to merely state his opposition to an increase in the minimum wage from the current $4.25 to $5 per hour.Rather, he felt the need to declare war on any such initiative, proclaiming that he'd oppose it "with every fiber of [his] being."Then, revealing his scorched-earth strategy, Mr. Armey expressed his opposition to the very concept of a minimum wage.

WASHINGTON -- Working at $4.25 an hour for a company that cleans public schools in Baltimore, Keith Mahone is puzzled that there should be argument over President Clinton's proposal to raise the minimum wage."

WASHINGTON -- Under pressure from the White House, Labor Secretary Robert B. Reich said yesterday that he would delay until next year his plans to recommend a higher minimum wage.Two weeks ago, Mr. Reich said that by the end of October he would recommend that the minimum wage, now $4.25 an hour, be increased by about 25 cents. But White House officials warned him immediately afterward that such a move would be unwise because it could antagonize business leaders at a time when President Clinton needs them for his health care and trade proposals.

In the midst of a recession, surrounded by drastic discounts, inventory reduction sales and vacant storefronts, scores of area retailers are begging for more help.At the Hunt Valley Mall alone last week, 17 stores displayed window signs appealing for job applicants.There were at least 10 stores posting signs at the Annapolis Mall, three at Reisterstown Road Plaza, two at the Glen Burnie Mall and even one at the Mondawmin Mall in economically hard-pressed West Baltimore.Some stores are enticing applicants with a selection of work schedules and generous employee discounts.

Maryland's minimum-wage law became moot last month when the federal minimum wage rose to $6.55 an hour, or 40 cents higher than what the state required. Next summer, the state minimum-wage law sinks further underwater when the federal wage rises to $7.25. Between now and January, when the next General Assembly session convenes, Gov. Martin O'Malley needs to formulate a plan to revive the state minimum wage to a realistic standard. The potential benefits of such a law on the lives of Maryland's working-class citizens - and on our most impoverished communities - are too great to ignore.

Last week Baltimore Mayor Martin O'Malley sent a letter to Gov. Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. asking him to support a minimum-wage increase - and then immediately told the press about it. It was a textbook dare, straight out of the Democratic handbook for this election season. Many Democrats across the nation are convinced that George Bush was elected President in 2004 thanks to a single wedge issue: gay marriage. They believe ballot initiatives aimed at banning gay marriage in several states drew large numbers of social conservatives to the polls.

The minimum wage rises from $6.55 to $7.25 an hour today, the last of a three-step increase approved by Congress two years ago in order to return some measure of relevancy to the federal standard that had been stuck at a paltry $5.15 for a decade. For the estimated 4.5 million workers who stand to benefit, this will be a cause for celebration. Others fear that what amounts to a 10 percent wage increase could not be more disastrously timed. They believe employers already suffering in a recession will have little choice but to lay off more workers.

Today, the minimum wage rises to $7.25 an hour, boosting more than 2 million hardworking employees one step up the ladder of economic opportunity. The working poor needed this increase. Minimum-wage workers have fallen further and further behind the cost of living. In today's dollars, adjusting by the Consumer Price Index, the 1968 minimum wage would be equivalent to $10.08, half again as much as yesterday's minimum wage of $6.55. So compared to where we were yesterday, today's increase is a very welcome step in the right direction.

Do you feel uninspired at work? Do you have more frequent blah moments? Do you count the minutes until lunch break or until you can leave the office? With job cuts resulting in increasing workload and stress, it is any surprise you're feeling unmotivated? But don't expect to get re-energized from your boss or the company because, let's face it, it seems everyone is struggling. You have the power to take control and change your attitude. Here is some advice from Kathy Bovard, coordinator of the human resources development graduate program at McDaniel College in Westminster, on how to find your work mojo again.

Md., federal minimum wage will rise to $7.25 per hour The federal minimum wage will increase to $7.25 on July 24, a move that affects 30 states, including Maryland. The current minimum wage in Maryland is $6.55. The U.S. Labor Department says a family with a full-time minimum wage earner will see $120 more in its monthly income. - Hanah Cho Stocks cap strong week with mixed finish NEW YORK - Investors are betting that the stock market has restarted its spring rally. Stocks ended little changed Friday but held onto an enormous gain for the week.

Minimum wage hike could cost poor jobs Employers are already resisting "the impulse to lay off workers in the face of the current turmoil" ("A deepening crisis," editorial, Dec. 8), but additional challenges remain ahead. President-elect Barack Obama has promised to raise the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $9.50, which means that many Maryland small businesses will have to make the difficult decision to let some employees go. According to research conducted by an economist at the University of California at Irvine, minimum-wage hikes clearly reduce the employment of those with the fewest skills.

Maryland's minimum-wage law became moot last month when the federal minimum wage rose to $6.55 an hour, or 40 cents higher than what the state required. Next summer, the state minimum-wage law sinks further underwater when the federal wage rises to $7.25. Between now and January, when the next General Assembly session convenes, Gov. Martin O'Malley needs to formulate a plan to revive the state minimum wage to a realistic standard. The potential benefits of such a law on the lives of Maryland's working-class citizens - and on our most impoverished communities - are too great to ignore.

Man electrocuted in Severna Park A contractor died after he fell into a hole in Severna Park and came into contact with a live power line, Anne Arundel County police said. Thomas Kikas Jr., an electrician trainee with Riggs Distler and Co., was restoring electricity to four homes when the accident occurred. Scientists face bay invaders Scientists at a new research center in Maryland will test strategies to kill invasive species and prevent them from hurting the Chesapeake Bay, according to an announcement.

An increase in the federal minimum wage to $6.55 an hour took effect yesterday, and unlike last year's increase - the first one at the federal level in 11 years - this one affects Maryland workers (the state minimum wage is $6.15). Bloggers had plenty to say about a pay raise for workers on the job market's lowest rung. "CNN reports: 'Rep. George Miller, a California Democrat who was one of the sponsors of the measure in the House, said up to 13 million workers benefited from the first increase under the bill, which brought the federal minimum wage to $5.85 per hour in July 2007.

WASHINGTON - About 64,000 workers in Maryland will get a pay raise tomorrow when the federal minimum wage bumps up to $6.55 an hour - the first federal increase to affect the state in a dozen years. For those working 40 hours a week at the state minimum of $6.15, the extra 40 cents an hour will amount to an additional $832 over the next 12 months. Another increase, scheduled to take effect next year, will add $1,456 a year. To Jason Perkins-Cohen, executive director of the Job Opportunities Task Force in Baltimore, it's "a small increase."

The job market for teenagers has been shrinking for a couple of years, but this summer it's looking exceptionally brutal. In fact, the teen employment rate earlier this year was the worst in 60 years, according to an April report by the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University. But there's an easy solution for parents with a family business: Hire your kid for the summer. It not only gets your son or daughter out of the house, but there are financial and other advantages for both of you. "Nepotism is great," says Barbara Weltman, author of J.K. Lasser's 1001 Deductions & Tax Breaks 2008.