Right-Wing Shelves Vote on Minimum Wage
Right-Wing Shelves Vote on Minimum Wage
Earlier this week, the House Appropriations Committee voted to raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour by 2009. The increase passed as an amendment to the Labor-HHS spending bill after seven Republicans — Reps. Jo Ann Emerson (R-MO), John Sweeney (R-NY), Ray LaHood (R-IL), Don Sherwood (R-PA), Mike Simpson (R-ID), James Walsh (R-NY), and Bill Young (R-FL) — broke ranks to pass the increase.
The right wing objected to the move on the grounds that the committee “shouldn’t be legislating on an appropriations bill.” (They forget how Sen. Frist (R-TN) and Rep. Hastert (R-IL) did exactly that last year when they slipped liability protections for vaccine makers into a defense spending bill.)
The “next step” for the bill would have been for the House Rules Committee “to decide whether to ‘protect’ the amendment as part of the bill,” followed by a floor vote on their ruling.
Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), who offered the amendment along with Rep. George Miller (D-CA), told ThinkProgress he was planning to fight attempts to take the increase out of the bill. “If there is an attempt to strip the amendment on procedural grounds,” he said, “we will fight back for the American people. The minimum wage is now at its lowest level in 50 years, and hardworking American families deserve a fair, livable wage.”
But now it looks like the vote will be delayed indefinitely. CongressDaily reported yesterday that “the bill would not reach the floor next week” and “there is a chance it would not come up even the following week, and possibly not at all.”
Conservatives are clearly afraid to be on the record opposing a minimum wage increase at a time when 83 percent of Americans support such a move.
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Now they’ll vote for another payraise for themselves.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:48 amThey got theirs, that’s all they care about. Greedy, greedy pigs.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:52 amSo Congress just voted themselves a pay raise equal to about one third the gross yearly income for a person making minimum wage. Do none of these bastards in Washington not see how cruel they are to the working poor?
June 16th, 2006 at 11:58 amWell, we saw what Ken Mehlman said about the GOP on The Daily Show. Gread and Cynicism
Keep working for special interest. The people with minmum wage are the ones who usually vote
June 16th, 2006 at 11:59 amThe Congress gives themselves a pay increase of $3,300 more a year, but they will not increase the Minimum wage that has remained unchanged for 8 years?! Shame on them!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:03 pmDemocracy is when the indigent, and not the men of property, are the rulers.
—Aristotle
A tyrant must put on the appearance of uncommon devotion to religion. Subjects are less apprehensive of illegal treatment from a ruler whom they consider god-fearing and pious. On the other hand, they do less easily move against him, believing that he has the gods on his side.
—Aristotle
Excess generally causes reaction, and produces a change in the opposite direction, whether it be in the seasons, or in individuals, or in governments.
—Plato
One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.
—Plato
When the tyrant has disposed of foreign enemies by conquest or treaty, and there is nothing more to fear from them, then he is always stirring up some war or other, in order that the people may require a leader.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:10 pm—Plato
How long before a troll shows up and tries to tell us that increasing the minimum wage will hurt the economy?
June 16th, 2006 at 12:10 pmCongress has given themselves a pay increase 7 times in a row over the past 7 years, but each year they voted down any raise of the minimum wage! If they had allowed a 25 cent increase each year since 1998, then it would be $2.00 more an hour this year, but now a $2.00 jump all at once would freak out small business owners and the whores in Congress know that > they are to blame for not letting it go up a quarter a year, so they can reimburse employers who would be harmed by a 2 buck increase now! If the Congress will not raise it, then their past 7 pay raises must be rescinded, plus the FREE medical/dental revoked too!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:12 pmRepublicans hate working class people.
-GSD
June 16th, 2006 at 12:14 pmThey got theirs, that’s all they care about. Greedy, greedy pigs.
Comment by unbelievable
My thoughts, almost word for word, except mine included a lot of swearing.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:14 pmHouse and Senate members forget that taxes pay their wages, but they think their pay comes from lobbyists or something > lol. They are pathetic and those who oppose raising min wage must resign or be voted out of office this November!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:16 pmHow long before a troll shows up and tries to tell us that increasing the minimum wage will hurt the economy?
Comment by bobcat_grad
3…2…1…
June 16th, 2006 at 12:16 pmEvery American must demand that the minimum wage is raised 2 bucks this year and then peg it to inflation like the Congress does each year for themselves > meaning it goes up each year automatically! CEOs can take the pay increases out of their compensation which has become outrageous greed!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:20 pmFor perspective I offer this poem, which is memorialized for some reason on a plaque attached to your Statue of Liberty. I’ve taken the liberty of adding a line so as to bring the poem up to date with the current philosophies of the USA:
The New Colossus
Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame,
With conquering limbs astride from land to land;
Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand
Glows world-wide welcome; her mild eyes command
The air-bridged harbor that twin cities frame.
“Keep ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she
With silent lips. “Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me,
I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
But best be ye rich and wealthy before,
June 16th, 2006 at 12:21 pm‘Cause we will pay only shit, and not a penny more.
Can somebody tell me who benefits from this skinflint policy? I don’t mean to be naive, but don’t these oligopolies need people who have money to spend? I make $40/hour and I have NO discretionary income. (Kids in college, health insurance increases every year, utility bills through the roof. etc.) The richest 5% can possibly buy enough to keep this country afloat can they?
This makes me furious. And nobody’s allowed to declare bankruptcy. Is the goal to have serfs wallking around in rags begging for scraps?
June 16th, 2006 at 12:25 pmI am up in arms about this because I wrote an opinion piece, yesterday, on Congress giving themselves a pay raise, which I posted on ThinkFast thread and which I sent to 13 members of the House of Representatives including Nancy Pelosi!
June 16th, 2006 at 12:25 pmThey got theirs, that’s all they care about. Greedy, greedy pigs.
Comment by unbelievable
My thoughts, almost word for word, except mine included a lot of swearing.
Comment by Zookeeper — June 16, 2006 @ 12:14 pm
I’m quite sure my thoughts included even more than yours. :)
June 16th, 2006 at 12:31 pmIs the goal to have serfs wallking around in rags begging for scraps?
Comment by Massachusetts Liberal — June 16, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
Yes.
Yes it is.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:32 pmThey got theirs, that’s all they care about. Greedy, greedy pigs.
Comment by unbelievable
My thoughts, almost word for word, except mine included a lot of swearing.
Comment by Zookeeper — June 16, 2006 @ 12:14 pm
I’m quite sure my thoughts included even more than yours. :)
Comment by Wayne A. Schneider — June 16, 2006 @ 12:31 pm
Count me in, as well.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:39 pmFor those who did not see or read my opinion piece on Congressional pay raise:
House Reps give themselves a raise?
Thursday 15th of June 2006
by Jay Randal
It’s being reported in the News that Representatives, in DC, gave themselves a raise of $3,300 on Tuesday, so raised from $165,200 to $168,500 a year, but the minimum wage has not been raised for past 8 years!
Every American would like to vote themselves a pay raise every year too, but no corporation or business allows their employees to increas their own wage, so it is highly unfair for members of Congress to do it!
Most Americans work 40+ hours a week, and lucky to get a one week paid vacation a year, but the Congress is only in session for less than 100 days a year, which means 265+ days a year are vacation or non-working!
Millions of Americans have no health insurance, nor dental care, but every elected politician gets FREE health & dental care, and the BEST retirement plan which is paid by average working Americans taxes!
Most families in America live on less than 1/4th the income of a Congressman’s pay, so why do members of the House need a raise, but not average families?
( Jay Randal, political activist and writer in Stone Mountain, Georgia.)
June 16th, 2006 at 12:41 pmIt’s a shame that in the country where originated the May 1 memorial day (Worker’s Day) happens this. Even the day is a working one.
In my country, minimum wage are raised every year. It’s not a great pay, but at least it is raised periodically.
I’m waiting for Tracy coming and telling me how many benefits have the USA workers over the ones of my country.
June 16th, 2006 at 12:42 pm“Look! That guy must be the king!”
June 16th, 2006 at 12:46 pm“How can you tell?”
“Well he doesn’t have shit all over him!”
By popular demand, I modified the original:
Those (bleeping) (bleeps) got theirs, that’s all those (bleepity)(bleepity)(bleeps) care about. Greedy, greedy (mother bleeping) pigs. (Bleep)(bleeping)(bleep)…
(bleep).
:O
June 16th, 2006 at 12:50 pmUnbelievable,
Thats funny, you got to it before I could.
I wanted to say “those a$$holes!”
June 16th, 2006 at 12:56 pmIn an attempt to understand the liberal mind, what is it exactly that an increase in the minimum wage will accomplish?
Also, there seems to be some attempt to tie minimum wage to congressional salary. What is the connection?
June 16th, 2006 at 12:58 pmCongressional cost of living pay raise? Check.
Minimum wage increase for those on the lowest spectrum of the social ladder? Go screw.
-GSD
June 16th, 2006 at 12:58 pmGSD,
I have been trying to “go screw” and I have been unsuccessful.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:00 pmPost 25 > Every member of Congress is paid by working Americans taxes, so when they give themselves a pay raise to offset inflation, then it’s ironic that the minimum wage gets no such inflationary consideration! Since the minimum wage does not go up each year, then why should the worthless whores in the Congress get an increase in pay? They work less and less each year so their pay should drop every year instead! Some members of Congress want the min wage to go up, but they never object to their own pay increases, which has a smell to it!
June 16th, 2006 at 1:12 pmAs for what an increase in min wage accomplishes? Try living on $5.35 an hour and see how you like it?! 1998 was the last increase to min wage > if it had gone up 25 cents a year it would be $7.35 now!
June 16th, 2006 at 1:18 pm#25 — LOL
#15 s/b The richest 5% can’t possibly buy enough to keep this country afloat can they?
June 16th, 2006 at 1:24 pmI wanted to say “those a$$holes!â€
Comment by For Truth — June 16, 2006 @ 12:56 pm
And I think ya just did :)
They earned it…
June 16th, 2006 at 1:29 pmThe USA is supposed to be the shining beacon of capitalism, but it seems that you no longer understand the concept. Let me explain.
With the news of this atrocity and affront to your most needy citizens, one of your large corporations should take a stand and make the following statement:
“We, the ACME Corporation, cannot sit idly by while our most valuable resource, our employees, are ignored and abandoned by their wealthy representatives in congress. Therefore, effective immediately, we have put into effect a minimum wage increase to $X.XX per hour. We value our employees and their welfare above all else and we will not allow the shortsighted and morally incomprehensible actions of misguided representatives to compromise our employees, our families, or our neighbors and friends.”
You can see the “win-win” situation that such would create. That, my friends, is capitalism. Unfortunately, for reasons that are beyond me, you believe that “exploitism = capitalism”, of which nothing could be further from the truth.
June 16th, 2006 at 1:39 pmRepublicans Block Minimum-Wage Increase…
We don’t want to risk having the bill pass, so let’s not bring it up at all!…
June 16th, 2006 at 1:43 pmSpread the word. The REPUBLICANS in charge REFUSE TO ALLOW A BILL to come forward to increase minimim wage, but gave themselves a raise. DID YOU HEAR THAT VOTERS?
Democrats need to hammer REPUBLICAN candidates over the head with this while campaigning this summer.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:01 pmMy first feeling on this issue is that we need to raise the minimum wage. There are probably many reasons to do it, but inflation is primary. I would probably vote for a wage increaes but with much stress.
Wouldn’t raising the minimum wage hurt small business and cause them to employ less people and even let go some they may currently have? Would this increae cause big business to employ less and even let go some of their employee’s? I would think that the answer to both is yes, but I could be wrong. I am just not sure about what type of impact this could have.
If we give people more hourly pay at the cost of some getting let go and others now not being able to find a job, is it worth it? I honestly don’t have the answer.
American business is about profit. It has to be. Big business and Small business alike will always try to maximize it. I know from personal experience they won’t just take this in the teeth. They of course will resrict hiring practices and could potentially even let go some of there workers.
The questions is: Will this policy hurt the average low paid citizen more then it helps. I don’t know.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:01 pmI also completely disagree with Congress giving themselves a raise. They should get paid minimum wage honestly. WHY? Because not a single one of them would quit. I say pay just enough to keep people working. Congress would work for free just for the power.
These guys are losers for giving themselves a raise!
June 16th, 2006 at 2:03 pm#35-Jerad,
You are caught up in the one of the greatest illusions ever heaped upon the American people. Minimum wage caps have virtually no effect on small businesses. Check your own labor statistics and you will find that the segment of your business community that offer wages at the level of your minimum wage is the segment that consists of your large corporations (eg; McDonalds, WalMart, Lowes, etc…).
Also, you have the statistics available to you that show the economic effect that increases in minimum have had historically. Take a look and tell me what you see. In your history, an increase in minimum wage has NEVER negatively affected your economy. In fact, the opposite is true. So then you have to ask yourself why your representatives are so reluctant to stimulate your economy.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:12 pmThey vote themselves generous pay raises and hand out tax cuts to their big business backers, and let the little guy wollow in a five dolllar handout.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:17 pmThe vote in November is the only time the hourly wager earner could consider him/herself to in the driver’s seat. And that is a stretch considering big business also controls the ballot. The little guy better take voter registration seriously and make sure he/she can participate in purging both the house and senate of people that refuse to represent them, otherwise they may remain in the slave camp for all time.
#35 – Raising the minimum wage does not contribute to inflation, nor does it cause job loss. In fact, in the states that have raised their minimum wage above the federal there has been a larger INCREASE in jobs than in other state (Illinois is one of them, Florida is another). It stands to reason that the people who have to spend everything they make will spend more when they have more to spend, thus positively affecting the local economy. Henry Ford got the concept years ago when he paid his employees well enough that they could afford to buy the cars they made.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:18 pmJerad,
Thoughtful answer on the minimum wage – are you sure you’re a liberal?
On the congressional pay, I’m sure it must be tough to maintain two residences on the pay they receive now, even with the increase. If we continue to pay congressmen, senators and even VP and presidential salaries in such a disproportionate way in comparison to the private sector, only those who are already millionaires will be able to serve.
Why not set the pay for a congressman at $500,000/yr, senators at $750,000, VP at $1,000,000 and President at $2,000,000? Along with their base pay, they would receive a bonus equal to that amount if they keep the country in budget for that year.
Also, to prevent undue influence by the “evil corporationsâ€, they would each receive a Net Jets account (minimum 200 hours/yr) based on their distance from Washington D.C. Congressmen would get a small/medium sized jet allowance (about $2600/hour) and senators would get a medium/heavy jet allowance of $4800/hour.
All travel, gifts, entertainment etc. must be reported online within 24 hours. Wouldn’t a plan like this make aberrations like Cunningham and Jefferson less likely to occur?
June 16th, 2006 at 2:28 pmMy name is Matt, and I work on the Lee Harris for Memphis campaign in the Tennessee 9th Democratic primaries.
I support increasing the minimum wage because low-wage earners often struggle to stay above the poverty line.
The minimum wage issue is on Lee’s platform. He believes that all workers should earn a fair and decent wage. The cost of living is continually up. Utility prices, food prices, gas prices. But the minimum wage is not going up. This makes it more difficult for people earning the minimum wage because they can’t keep up with the rising costs of everything.
Congress is aware of the rising cost of living. They passed a pay raise for themselves to account for the increasing cost of living. It is time to ensure that working families, too, can keep up with the cost of living.
Lee Harris is a big supporter of increasing the minimum wage, like I said earlier. Last week, he sponsored a benefit concert for waiters and waitresses to raise awareness of the plight of servers who often are paid low wages and do not receive any benefits. He recently released a position paper on the issue. That paper can be found at http://www.leeharrisformemphis.com/ images/ CreatingFairDecentWages.pdf
If you are interested in learning more about Lee, you can visit his website at http://www.leeharrisformemphis.com
It really is time to raise the minimum wage.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:37 pmExactly. Another example of the stupidity of the “trickle down” theory. If a bussiness pays only minimum wages (think of janitors, seasonal workers, fruit/vegetable pickers), and simply hasn’t raised wages in seven years in a row, what means? That the bussiness hasn’t had enough income/benefits for seven years in a row? Sorry, but that is a crappy bussiness, and has crappy managers, it’s worth keep pushing it not having any revenue? But, in the other hand, if the price of what they sell has keep raising (and everybody know that basic goods prices have been raising every year), where goes the money? I guess that it goes directly to the purses of the managers, so no trickle down anywhere.
Sorry, but basic bussiness theory says that a bussiness or corporation that doesn’t increase the income year after year, in fact is losing money, and competitivity.
But I guess that too many bussiness take the impact of a changing market using the workers as shields.
Sorry, but “right to work” isn’t enough if the job doesn’t pays.
June 16th, 2006 at 2:42 pmI read the link and now fully agree that we need to raise the minimum wage. Thanks for informing me of that research.
j.west.- You have a very good point and one I did not consider. I especially like that part about getting a bonus for keeping the budget in check. Maybe Dennis Hastert wouldn’t have gotten “his” road build :).
Good information guys. I have learned alot
June 16th, 2006 at 2:46 pm#32 – is that sarcasm on or off?
June 16th, 2006 at 2:50 pmCan you think of a single large corporation that would do that? I wish…
[...] Congress has time to debate flag burning and of course the important issue of protecting marriage from gays and lesbians. That has left little time to debate something that could actually have a positive impact on an estimated 1.8 million parents with children. Since over half of the people who divorce cite financial problems as the leading cause to their divorce, wouldn't this move to raise the minimum wage be something that really would protect marriage? Just asking. [...]
June 16th, 2006 at 2:52 pmIf the minimum wage had been pegged to inflation, like the pay for members of the Congress, then nobody would have a gripe on here about it! Plus it going up 25 cents a year would not cause small business owners to freak out over it either! A $2.00 jump all at once would frighten some employers, but corporations like Wal-Mart that swindle their employees would complain the most because they are into exploitation and greed! No large corporation would be harmed by an increase in the minimum wage, but perhaps the piggy CEOs would be forced to reduce their mult-million dollar salaries/compensation?!
June 16th, 2006 at 2:58 pmHumanist,
Don’t know where you’re located, but in the Midwest, McDonalds is hiring at $7.60/hr, Lowes “associates†start at $6.80 for a probationary period of 30 days, then $7.80.
The folks at WalMart wouldn’t give out their starting wage over the phone, but I’m sure they don’t start at minimum wage. WalMart has made more millionaires out of employees than Microsoft, so I find it hard to believe their primary mission in life is to screw the people working there.
Does anyone here know someone working for minimum wage? If so, what do they do and how long have they been in that job?
June 16th, 2006 at 3:51 pmPost 58 > Wal-Mart hires everybody at whatever the state’s minimum wage law allows > in Georgia it’s $5.35 an hour, but in Vermont it’s $7.50, etc. Wal-Mart has such a high turnover of employees that most never earn more than minimum wage!
Nobody becomes a millionaire working as a cashier, or stock clerk, at a Wal-Mart, so do not be ridiculous j. west! Plus do not defend a company of vultures please!
June 16th, 2006 at 4:11 pmPost 48 I mean > typo!
June 16th, 2006 at 4:12 pmJay,
The people that started working for WalMart in the early years were given a chance to invest in the company, thus making them millions in the long run.
That’s how you get rich in America – invest. Take a risk. No one is going to hand you financial security based on your ability to whine.
June 16th, 2006 at 4:20 pmGet real j west > nobody who works for Wal-Mart are millionaires unless they are executives or a district manager perhaps! Do not defend that vile parasitic company on here, unless you are paid to defend them on here?
Since Wal-Mart Corp. is forced to start their employees at $7.50 an hour in Vermont, then that is the amount they should start all employees in every state, plus give them a decent raise each year thereafter!
June 16th, 2006 at 4:27 pmin the Uk the minimum wage is £5.25 and many companies are signing up to hyke that up to £7 and hour for people to have a fair wage
June 16th, 2006 at 4:37 pmJay,
No one is forced to work at WalMart, McDonald’s or any other company. If someone feels they are not being paid enough, they are free to sell their labor to any other employer or even start their own business.
On the other hand, businesses normally try to pay their employees slightly higher than what they are actually worth in an attempt to reduce turnover and training costs. The reason businesses hire people is not to provide employment, but to make money. John Wayne said it best in one of his westerns, and I’m paraphrasing here, “I don’t give jobs, I hire menâ€.
If you believe that businesses should be “forced†to pay some arbitrary wage and even raises each year, it may be time for you to start your own business. Simply place everything you own or ever will own up as collateral, borrow from your friends and family, work 12 to 14 hours a day at least 6 days a week for a few years with no pay, and then you’ll be free to hire whoever you want and pay them whatever “living wage†your liberal fiends come up with.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:14 pmI agree with the above posters.
Whenever you do something for the poorest in society, it works as a “quick stimulation” to the overall economy.
To wit, poor people don’t have Swiss bank accounts or offshore holding accounts like the rich do. Indeed, 24% of the bottom tax bracket don’t even have bank accounts at all! So, the poor end up spending the money quickly. That, in turn, provides a “shot in the arm” to the economy.
You know, folks, in Brazil, there is a saying:
“If money were sh*t, poor people would be born without a$$es.” (profanity edited)
What this means is simply that the economists were influenced by the rich people to put out this bull plop about negative effects on the economy when you raise the minimum wage.
In 1997, here in the State of Washington, we raised our minimum wage right after the Feds did. Our minimum wage is $7.35 an hour (the highest in the nation.)
Conservatives at the time predicted that our economy would go immediately into recession because of it (some were even arguing that we would go into a mild depression.)
But we didn’t… we’re still kicking. In fact, in 2005, our state’s economy was among the top in the nation!
Just another load of crap from the Bushco morons.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:20 pmj.west:
Not exactly! Banks lend money to start businesses only to those who are dedicated and have UNBLEMISHED credit in any way.
My friend and his wife own a Brazilian store in Seattle. My friend works for Washington Mutual Bank.
Even though he is an employee of the company (and has been for almost 10 years), they turned him and his wife down for a small business loan… due to a lack of credit history (as they immigrated from Rio de Janeiro in 1998).
How are poor people supposed to get small business loans with this kind of crap from the banks?????
June 16th, 2006 at 5:25 pmPost 56 > I think j west is trying to change the subject from Wal-Mart being a parasitic company!
Note: I owned my own business and yes you have to work long hours and not pay yourself a lot in the beginning to get the business going and making profits! Wal-Mart is an established corporation that makes excessive profits by swindling their own employees! As for finding other work j west fails to mention that US economy under Bush stinks badly, so many Americans are desperately seeking jobs and Wal-Mart exploits them!
June 16th, 2006 at 5:36 pmMrBlueSky,
Glad you asked, as this question seems to be a source of confusion in the liberal community.
It all starts with rich, greedy republicans. Being rich means that we need to store our excess money somewhere. Because we are greedy, when we place our money in banks we expect interest payments.
Ever wonder why every banker you meet is bald, unhappy and on the verge of a heart attack? It’s because he has rich, greedy republicans screaming at him to increase their interest rates or risk loosing our deposits. Of course, the banker lends as much money as possible to the people who have good credit and who pay the lowest interest rates, but in order to pay a better rate to the depositors, he is forced to go looking for next group of borrowers, with not-so-good credit.
These second tier borrowers can still get loans, but they will have to pay a higher rate. Therein lies the money to pay the depositors more. See, greed works to make money available to those who wouldn’t qualify otherwise. All the banker wants to secure the loan is the ability to legally strip the borrower of anything of any value if he defaults. The borrower must be willing to place his ass on the line, with the knowledge that the world will fall on his head if he dares miss a payment.
This is as it should be.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:41 pmJay,
In case you haven’t noticed, the economy is cooking.
The reason the Fed is raising interest rates is because the economy is growing so fast and the unemployment rate is so low, they are afraid of inflation.
On WalMart, their profit margin is about average in the retail sector. Just because they sell a lot doesn’t mean their profits are “excessiveâ€.
June 16th, 2006 at 5:51 pmDsmn – they get a raise but we don’t. Get the inflatable pigs ready and park them in front of your Congressperson’s office. You are guaranteed to get the attention of the press and then you can talk about the Congressional raise and how this Congressperson voted against the minimum wage increase. It worked in PA. The legislators that voted for their payraise got voted out during the primaries, even when their challengers only job experiece was auto body work.
LET THE PIGS ROLE!
June 16th, 2006 at 6:27 pm#6 – thanks unbelievable. Great quotes.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:30 pmThis makes me furious. And nobody’s allowed to declare bankruptcy. Is the goal to have serfs wallking around in rags begging for scraps?
Comment by Massachusetts Liberal — June 16, 2006 @ 12:25 pm
Yes – that is precisely what they want and they want us to become endentured servants.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:35 pmThis bill will not see the light of day. However, the gay ammendment bill will be discussed and so will the anti-flag descration bill. Congress has the need to focus on minutia instead of doing the hard work by focusing on the needs of the American people. Throw the bums out.
June 16th, 2006 at 6:39 pmYes, Ys, YES, Let’s get the idea of rescinding out elected officials pay out in the open. Plus, lets rescind or limit their health care which we are all paying for, too. Their jobs/positions used to be seen as a public service not a path to entitlement.
June 16th, 2006 at 11:59 pmThe economy is cooking?
How much acid was in your system when you read the business section this morning?
June 17th, 2006 at 12:37 amAnd for cripes sake, don’t come back with any glowing statement about the unemployment rate – the government stops counting many unemployed long before they are ever employed again. And please – don’t tell us how those people are slothful for not immediately being re-employed. Finally – you really think most people can start their own businesses? I have been self-employed the vast majority of my adult life, the problems facing the working population are borne of many roots. You seem to think there are a few easy panaceas – quit dropping acid and do a reality check. I know – since the MORON (master obfuscator ruining our nation) Bush doesn’t do any – why should you?
#6 Unbelievable, that is, by far, the best post you have made in a long time!
June 17th, 2006 at 2:28 amJust a thought: we have a minimum wage law in the United States that has passed constitutional challenges. We lack a maximum wage law.
How much is too much?
Can someone please justify the astronomical salary/compensation packages given to the few, and, since the current faction in power claims we are a Christian nation, do so in light of the teachings of Christ?
June 17th, 2006 at 2:35 amI live in Sweeney’s district. I’ve been wondering what the heck has happened lately, all he does these days is try to side with the Democrats on issues that he’s never supported before.
Something strange is happening for sure.
June 17th, 2006 at 5:32 amPost 70 > some Democrats are actually Republicans who just masquerade as Dems! I call them Trojan Horse Republicans > Sen. Joe Lieberman is a good example of one > another one is Sen. Ben Nelson of Nebraska! Those 42 Dems in the House who voted for in agreement with the Repubs on Iraq occupation have outed themselves as phony Dems too!
June 17th, 2006 at 9:42 amSo…..$7.25 is a “fair, livable” wage?….these guys are just way out of touch…
June 17th, 2006 at 2:07 pmReally? would you please post the link to that information?
June 17th, 2006 at 4:14 pmback to the question of large corporations raking in the bucks but not paying sh**…
I was a manager for Taco Bell for 5+ years. We started our employees off at minimum wage and they generally got a raise evey six months, maximum of 5%. Most people, of course, did not get the maximum. So think about it – at $6.00 – which is higher than the the minimum wage here – someone getting a 3% increase is getting a whopping 18 cents an hour. Hoo boy!
June 17th, 2006 at 5:44 pmFunny j. west. That is classic. “The people that started working for WalMart in the early years were given a chance to invest in the company, thus making them millions in the long run.” Umm, how do you invest money you DON’T have? Making $5.00 an hour sure doesn’t give you much room to work with, especially when the predatory corporation doesn’t offer benefits. Your kid gets sick you are in debt for life. You are just like your King, incredibly out of touch with the rest of the country. Invest…that is a good one.
June 17th, 2006 at 6:28 pm[...] Think Progress » Right-Wing Shelves Vote on Minimum Wage The right wing objected to the move on the grounds that the committee “shouldn’t be legislating on an appropriations bill.†(tags: politics policy economics) [...]
June 18th, 2006 at 12:18 amIn the “What we’re about” section you should include “The raising of taxes of the rich -(those making over $60,000 a yr.)”.
June 19th, 2006 at 1:22 am“we will fight back for the American people. The minimum wage is now at its lowest level in 50 years, and hardworking American families deserve a fair, livable wage.â€
June 19th, 2006 at 1:44 amUgh, what would liberal politicians do if they had to leave out the phrase ‘hardworking American families deserve….’ from their speeches. The minimum wage was never established to raise families on. Most making the minimum are under 25, students, part-timers, entry level types.
‘The minimum wage was never established to raise families on. Most making the minimum are under 25, students, part-timers, entry level types.’
Comment by ty — June 19, 2006 @ 1:44 am
That is true, BUT, unfortunately that is how it is…people ARE trying to raise families on minimum wage because that’s the only job you can get without a college degree these days. College is expensive…yeah, there are grant and loan programs, but even when you get that degree that is supposed to get you a good job, you are then in debt. Student loan payments are added to all the other bills you have to pay. With gas prices the way they are and the prices of everything else going up as well, it’s hard to live on $10 an hour, let alone 5.15 or even 7.25. These days it takes two parents to work in order to raise a family. Then, you have childcare costs as well. Let’s not forget that if both parents are working, you have to have two cars and car insurance. (more money going towards gasoline) Heaven forbid if you happen to be a single parent doing it on your own. Especially without a college education……and people wonder why so many people are on welfare! It’s rediculous!
June 21st, 2006 at 11:11 pmDon’t even get me started on those inflated salaries….my god, firefighters/paramedics/police officers…those are the real people who do REAL public service…..I know of at least one Firefighter/paramedic who barely makes $30,000 a year. They SAVE lives…..the people who are elected are supposed to represent the American people….when over 80% of the people are IN FAVOR of a minimum wage raise you would think that it would be their DUTY to do it!
Thought this was interesting
The article states that even though the San Francisco minimum wage was raised to 8.50 in 2003 many businesses are not adhering to the new wage. Mainly due to the fact that these businesses have poor payroll records for the Office of Labor Standard Enforcement to investigate.
Which you would think would be enough to impose a fine but apparently not.
So even if the wage is increased will it even be implemented.?
June 22nd, 2006 at 4:16 amPLease post the names of all the Senators who voted against the minimum wage increase.
Thank you.
Harold Somer
June 22nd, 2006 at 11:08 am(212) 541-4838; Fax (212) 422-0862
post 81> Grouped By Vote Position
YEAs —47>>
Akaka (D-HI)
Baucus (D-MT)
Bayh (D-IN)
Biden (D-DE)
Bingaman (D-NM)
Boxer (D-CA)
Byrd (D-WV)
Cantwell (D-WA)
Carper (D-DE)
Chafee (R-RI)
Clinton (D-NY)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dayton (D-MN)
DeWine (R-OH)
Dodd (D-CT)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Durbin (D-IL)
Feingold (D-WI)
Feinstein (D-CA)
Harkin (D-IA)
Jeffords (I-VT)
Johnson (D-SD)
Kennedy (D-MA)
Kerry (D-MA)
Kohl (D-WI)
Landrieu (D-LA)
Lautenberg (D-NJ)
Leahy (D-VT)
Levin (D-MI)
Lieberman (D-CT)
Lincoln (D-AR)
Mikulski (D-MD)
Murray (D-WA)
Nelson (D-FL)
Nelson (D-NE)
Obama (D-IL)
Pryor (D-AR)
Reed (D-RI)
Reid (D-NV)
Rockefeller (D-WV)
Salazar (D-CO)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sarbanes (D-MD)
Schumer (D-NY)
Specter (R-PA)
Stabenow (D-MI)
Wyden (D-OR)
NAYs —51>>
Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Lugar (R-IN)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Sessions (R-AL)
Shelby (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Snowe (R-ME)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)
Warner (R-VA)
And by the way, so are all missing the f@cking point…try discussing why this vote turned out the way it did.
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:40 pmOh yeah…
June 22nd, 2006 at 8:44 pmforgot about the two that didnt vote
Corzine (D-NJ)
Inouye (D-HI)
[...] A Majority of the majority. Sounds kind of funny the first time you hear it but it’s the way the US House of Representatives has been run since being taken over by the Republicans in ‘94. What it means is that no bill will come to a vote on the floor of the House unless a majority of Republicans are in favor of it being passed. To refresh you memory, a majority of Republicans in the US House of Representatives were against allowing the Voting Rights Act (VRA) to be renewed, and therefore it wasn’t brought to the floor. It also appears to be the reason a vote will never take place in the House on raising the minimum wage. But now it looks like the vote will be delayed indefinitely. CongressDaily reported yesterday that “the bill would not reach the floor next week†and “there is a chance it would not come up even the following week, and possibly not at all.†[...]
June 25th, 2006 at 7:39 pmIf you believe that businesses should be “forced†to pay some arbitrary wage and even raises each year, it may be time for you to start your own business. Simply place everything you own or ever will own up as collateral, borrow from your friends and family, work 12 to 14 hours a day at least 6 days a week for a few years with no pay, and then you’ll be free to hire whoever you want and pay them whatever “living wage†your liberal fiends come up with.
Poor walmart! I don’t know why the employees want to bankrupt poor pop and mom walton! Shame on them, those liberal fiends!
August 28th, 2006 at 7:51 pmI don’t see the problem with raising min. wage since most places are already starting employees out at a higher wage anyway, raising min wage will only guarentee that that is the wage everyone will get. And really if you think it is realistic to live on 5.15/hr. I suggest you try it for a while. where I am unless you make at least 7.00/hr you can’t even afford to rent an apartment and buy food (And I live in a small town, not a corprate booming area). the lowest you can get away with for a livable apartment is 250 a month and then you have to pay the utilities( gas prices for heating are at 175 a month!) you try it for a while then tell me you can do it on min. wage.
September 6th, 2006 at 1:27 pmIncreasing the minimum wage does cause prices to go up. Its a never ending cycle. Here in Arkansas, where the state minimum wage is set to go up to $6.25 in October, minimum wage employers are already raising prices to compensate.
Does anybody really think that a minimum wage employer is going to sacrifice his/her bottom line because the government raised the minimum wage? Hell no! They pass it on to the consumer, just like all other increases in the cost of doing business (i.e. cost of product, gas prices, etc.) Hence, by the time the businesses get done raising prices, its time for the Democrats to scream for another increase.
September 8th, 2006 at 8:33 pmi like boobs…sweet boobs
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:40 pmAnd i Am GOD
October 23rd, 2006 at 1:43 pm