In 1996, congressional Republicans were a little concerned about losing their majority control of both chambers, to they struck a deal with the Clinton White House to increase the minimum wage. It undermined Bob Dole’s message — Newt didn’t care; he realized the presidential race wouldn’t be close — and it took away a Dem issue.<\/p>\n
A decade later, with the minimum wage buying-power at its lowest level since 1949, Republicans at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue are slowly considering the possibility<\/a> of an increase.<\/p>\n Treasury Secretary Snow’s remarks on income inequality fuel debate. “We’ll engage with” advocates of an increase, he says, while cautioning against pricing some workers out of labor market. […]<\/p>\n Commerce Secretary Gutierrez also signals openness to an increase if Congress pursues the issue “thoughtfully\u2026and not emotionally.”<\/p><\/blockquote>\n I’m curious — how, exactly, does the administration define an “emotional” debate over minimum wage? For that matter, will the Bush gang resist an increase if they deem the process as insufficiently “thoughtful”?<\/p>\n