"WASHINGTON (AP) — In a surprise move, a House panel voted Tuesday for a hike in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, which would be the first increase in a decade."

(body summary: But it's not going to pass the floor because of political and process confusion.)

... "When adjusted for inflation, the $5.15 per hour wage is the lowest it has been for 50 years, according to a study by Center for Economic and Policy Research, a liberal-leaning think tank.

'"The minimum wage is lower than it has been at any time since 1956," said Miller, the top Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. "Congress' refusal to raise the minimum wage shows an utter disrespect for millions of Americans who work hard every day and still struggle to meet even the most basic needs."

"But Republicans counter that raising the wage would provoke inflation and lead to job losses, especially for young people just entering the job market.

"At $5.15 per hour, a worker who works 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year earns $10,712 per year."
Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-06-13-minimum-wage_x.htm