WASHINGTON, Feb. 1 (UPI) -- The U.S. Senate added tax breaks for small business to a House bill increasing the minimum wage and then passed it Thursday by an overwhelming margin.
The measure balances the $8.3 billion in tax breaks with tax hikes for corporations and highly paid executives, the Washington Post reported. The changes from the House bill made increasing the minimum wage for the first time in 10 years palatable to enough Republicans that it passed the Senate 94-3.
"I want to reiterate our hope that the House will not derail this bipartisan approach," said Sen. Mike Enzi, R-Wyo. "Middle-class relief is in their hands."
President George W. Bush issued a statement supporting the Senate bill.
Democrats were less enthusiastic about the compromise. Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada said he would have preferred a bill "without all these pieces of sugar."
Reid said he believes the differences between the House and Senate bills can be resolved in conference committee.
