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To: Dwight Taylor who wrote (5717)	1/12/1998 6:53:00 PM
From: Bucky Katt	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116760

Whoa, here it comes, you won't believe it>>> President Clinton is considering proposing an increase in the minimum wage to bring its eroded buying power closer to levels of two decades ago, a White House spokesman said Monday. ''It's being looked at,'' spokesman Mike McCurry told reporters. ''An increase in the minimum wage has been suggested by many of our friends and supporters in Congress,'' McCurry said. ''There are a number of ideas the president has under examination, including what he can do with a minimum wage that has lost some of its economic power relative to what it has been in the past,'' he said. ''The increases that we did in 1996 did not bring it up to the full value it had, for example, 20 years ago.'' McCurry gave no indication of how big an increase was being considered. After a bruising battle in 1996, the Republican-controlled Congress approved raising the minimum wage for the first time in five years, to $5.15 an hour from $4.25 in two increments. Sources on Capitol Hill said Clinton has been talking to congressional Democrats about a new minimum wage increase, but no final decision had been made. The consideration comes as Clinton, emboldened by a strong domestic economy and projected balance in the federal budget, has increasingly promoted a traditional Democratic social agenda. Last week, he proposed allowing Americans aged 55-64 to buy into the Medicare health insurance program, and said he would seek another $70 million for college work-study programs. McCurry last week characterized the administration's approach as ''maintaining fiscal discipline with a human face.'' A boost in the minimum wage would also be a powerful campaign plank for Democrats seeking to regain control of Congress in this year's elections. Even before the second, 40-cent step in the previous minimum wage hike took effect last September, Massachusetts Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy had introduced a bill to raise the wage. Kennedy later modified his proposal to provide for a $1.50 per hour raise over three years, to $6.65 per hour, and then link the minimum wage to the inflation rate. The government reported last week that hourly earnings for U.S. workers averaged $12.48 in December. An aide to Kennedy said the minimum wage would have to be $7.33 per hour to match the buying power it had in 1968. Clinton said last year that the last minimum-wage increase had helped boost incomes of the poorest group of Americans. However, Republicans have traditionally sharply opposed increases in the minimum wage, arguing that higher minimum wages discourage employers from hiring unskilled workers. Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan told Congress in July that raising the minimum wage to $6.50 per hour would prevent lower-skilled workers from improving their position in the labor force.

To: Dwight Taylor who wrote (5717)	1/13/1998 3:42:00 PM
From: John Mansfield	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 116760

Dutch opposition against Italy as EMU participant? (Repost from the Y2K / Society thread) In an article of 'Der Spiegel' of this week, it is mentioned that the Dutch minister of finance has mentioned strong opposition against Italy as a member of the EMU. He is quoted to have said that the Netherlands will not participate when Italy will participate. This has got the Germans and French governments deeply worried. There is apparently not enough trust in future budget cuts by the Italian government, and their ability to sustain the 'Maastricht' criteria for becoming a member of the monetary union. 'Der Spiegel' is one of the most influential weeklies of Germany. My remark: Also, governments of both Great Brittain (not becoming a member next year) and the Netherlands are furthest in y2k awareness and setting up proper government action. Pure coincidence!? Regards, John