Ten states allow for the automatic increases, though they tend to be harder to pass through state governments, political analysts said.

WSJ: Christie Vetoes Bill to Raise Minimum Pay

Are you worried, though, that by adding a discussion of short-term measures on the economy into these discussions about long-term deficit reductions that that may complicate the conversation and make it harder to pass a debt limit?

WHITEHOUSE: President Obama News Conference

He said there was no case for making A-levels harder because the pass rate was so high.

BBC: Achievements mask school divide

The competition, especially in the U.S., makes it harder for Whirlpool to pass along higher raw material prices to consumers.

WSJ: Executive Bonuses Bounce Back

That motivated Steinhardt to work harder, and Family PASS took off.

CNN: Mom stands between families and homelessness

The defeat makes it harder for Merkel to pass legislation, and because Germany is seen as the defacto leader of Europe, that could change how the EU acts on the sovereign debt crisis.

FORBES: Merkel's Defeat and the EU Sovereign Debt Crisis

And the more complicated the reform, the harder it would be to pass.

FORBES: The GOP And Immigration: Good Economics, But What About The Politics?

Two out of three people pass the test, but it's harder to gain access to more campaigns.

FORBES: Magazine Article

Pass Christian, which was one of the harder-hit areas, I've got--I had a vault, an ATM and a night depository knocked over.

NPR: Mississippi Banker Moves Family into Branch

To survive, the bill must pass a vote in the Senate due to take place after The Economist had gone to press and then, harder still, win a presidential signature.

ECONOMIST: Wall Street deregulation