MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE PASSES SENATE COMMITTEE

The Senate Labor and Human Resources Committee Wednesday approved legislation to raise the minimum wage to $4.65 an hour over three years. ``This will basically restore a minimum standard of decency'' to workers who are now covered by the $3.35-an-hour minimum wage, said committee chairman Edward Kennedy.

President Bush has threatened to veto the bill. His administration has proposed raising the minumum wage, but with a lower ``training wage'' for newly hired workers.