31.   By raising the wage that contractors must pay, he found, these laws make it less tempting for cities to seek to save money by privatizing services.

32.   But with the jobless rate so low, employers will likely raise wages to attract workers, putting upward pressure on prices.

33.   Chirac promised employees their wages would be raised, businessmen they would pay fewer taxes and the unemployed they would get jobs.

34.   Companies could not raise wages to attract workers and they offered company-sponsored health insurance.

35.   Consumers would spend more freely once confidence returned, interest rates and unemployment fell and well-off companies raised wages, he said.

36.   Companies can afford to raise wages without raising prices if worker productivity -- the time, effort and cost of providing goods and services -- rises.

37.   Dole argued that raising the wage would force layoffs, particularly among young urban workers.

38.   Dole endorses the basic GOP position that a balanced budget and business-oriented tax cuts are a better way to raise wages and stimulate economic growth.

39.   Edward Angstadt, president of the Grower-Shipper Vegetable Association of Central California, said it would not be so simple for farmers to raise wages.

40.   Fast food outlets, for example, report few shortages in the region, and thus little pressure to raise wages.