President Bush endorsed Democrats proposed $2.10 increase in the national minimum wage Wednesday but said that a pay boost should be accompanied by tax relief and regulatory relief for small businesses. Democrat leaders are looking to raise the minimum wage from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25 an hour. The President said he supports the increase, but that it should be done in a way that doesn?t punish small businesses.
See "Bush: Add tax cut to minimum wage plan", Jennifer Loven, Chicago Tribune, December 20, 2006