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The broader question of minimum-wage legislation presents a difficult choice between economic and social values. Some liberal economists worry that the minimum wage spreads unemployment by making bosses pay marginal workers more than they think their labor is worth. There is some concern that a boost would be inflationary; though Brennan's proposal would cost employers only $771 million this year in raises to the 1,000,000 workers who actually get the minimum wage, it might raise the pay of many others who now get more than the minimum and would demand the same differential. For their part, a few conservative economists concede that there is a strong case in social justice for a generous hike: the minimum wage has not been raised for seven years, during which consumer prices have risen 32%, and any increase now would go directly to the working poor. Union men note causticly that Brennan himself, during his confirmation hearings early this year, endorsed an extension of the minimum wage to more workers. Brennan's reply: "The Secretary has to speak for the President, and that's what I did."