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Story: Lowest Paid
Workers May Get Raise, 02/21/07
Reading Comprehension Questions: 1. Why is raising the minimum wage a priority for Democrats in Congress?
2. Why does Congress want to make tax cuts while raising the minimum wage?
3. What are some of the tax breaks the House of Representatives and Senate bills would give businesses?
4. What are the differences in how the House of Representatives and Senate bills would finance the tax cuts?
5. How will the House and Senate resolve differences between their two bills?
6. If the House and Senate agree on a bill to raise the minimum wage, what has to happen before the bill becomes a law?
Discussion Activity (more research might be needed): 1. Research the history of the federal minimum wage, especially the years in which it has risen. Do you think it is time for the minimum wage to increase again? Why or why not? 2. Pretend that you support the House of Representatives' bill to increase the minimum wage. How would you compromise with the Senate to come up with a final draft of the bill? What tax cuts would you agree on? How would you finance those cuts? 3. Imagine you owned a small business and your employees made minimum wage. Would you be in favor of the House or Senate bills? How could you adjust your business to pay the higher wages? Write a 300-500 word essay on either of these topics providing clear examples. Send your completed editorial to NewsHour Extra (extra@newshour.org). Exceptional essays might be published on our Web site. |