That quote seems to sum up the current debate over increasing the minimum wage in California, as Senate Democrats today moved forward their version of a pay hike and killed a version supported by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.

The comment came from Sen. Richard Alarcon (D-Van Nuys), chairman of the Senate Labor and Industrial Relations Committee, during discussion of SB 1167 from Sen. Abel Maldonado (R-Santa Maria). Maldonado’s bill, endorsed by the governor, would raise the state’s minimum wage from $6.75 to$7.25 this year, and another 50 cents next year.

But it doesn’t include a formula for future increases– the reason Schwarzenegger has vetoed similar bills in the past, and a key demand from Democrats.

“I believe there are times we need to compromise,” said Maldonado.

Nonetheless, Democrats refused to vote for the bill, a proposal that clearly could have been helpful to the governor’s reelection campaign.

Instead, Democrats will try their version of a minimum wage increase again, with the committee voting in favor of SB 1162 by Sen. Gil Cedillo (D-LA); the bill has the same wage hikes as SB 1167 but again includes an “indexing” formula for future hikes based on inflation.

Another minimum wage hike with an indexing formula will be heard this afternoon in an Assembly committee.