At a press conference held on Monday, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) joined Sens. John Warner (R-VA), Norm Coleman (R-MN) and Ben Nelson (D-NE) in outlining a bi-partisan resolution opposing troop increases, and instead calls on the president to consider all options and alternatives for achieving our strategic goals. It does not however do anything to limit existing funding for US forces. Sen. Judd Gregg (R-NH) is leading the Republican effort to attach a line-item veto provision to the Senate's version of a House-passed bill (HR 2) to increase the minimum wage to $7.25 over two years. A Senate vote is scheduled Wednesday but a showdown is expected, as Republicans will highlight the fact that Democrats supported such an effort during the Clinton Administration. If the Senate approves the measure, which is expected, a House-Senate Conference Committee will be appointed to reconcile differences.
Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-MA) announced that as soon as Congress approves a minimum wage increase he will immediately advance an effort to increase it further, between $8 and $9 an hour. The last time there has been an increase in the minimum wage was 12 years ago.