House vote on a minimum wage increase likely.
By on Jul 4th, 2006 at 1:10 pm
House vote on a minimum wage increase likely.
“Faced with elections that could cost them control of Congress, John A. Boehner, the House majority leader, acknowledged Thursday that Republican leaders are likely to reverse course and hold a vote on a proposed minimum wage increase.” The House hasn’t allowed a vote on the issue since 1997.
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I guess they're feeling politically vulnerable after their 10+ years of pay increases worth over 30k.
July 4th, 2006 at 1:19 pmBoehner acknowledged that GOP leaders are ``probably going to have to find some way to deal with it."
This after saying raising the minimum wage was bad policy. But since it might cost some Republican jobs, let's throw the working-poor a bone and remind them about the icky gay marriage, and maybe they'll vote for us. Boehner is a fuckwit, but if it gets the minimum wage raised, it's good.
July 4th, 2006 at 1:19 pmAssclowns of the Week #40: Independence From Sanity Edition is just up and it still has that new post smell.
On the spit this week: George Bush
Melanie Morgan
Joementum
Jack Burkman
General Motors.
All this and much, much more!
July 4th, 2006 at 1:20 pmSo if they think they have to vote for it to get re-elected why would they vote against it? If they think people would vote against them if they didn't do this then they know the people they represent want this to happen. Isn't that what they are supposed to do represent the people that elected them? Selling out to others(corporations) maybe?
July 4th, 2006 at 1:33 pmTo little to late but 50 cents can't buy a vote in these trying times. Now if the GOP would give Americans what they pay Tweety and O'Reilly plus Paulsen got a 19 million dollar raise and hasn't taken office yet. So let's give a big raise to buy those votes and maybe just maybe they could win. It's all about the money and how many people can be brought.
July 4th, 2006 at 1:34 pmAfter letting the buying power of the minimum wage decline to the lowest levels since World War II, ya think it's about time to raise it!?
July 4th, 2006 at 1:47 pmI'm confused.
The Republican politicians have been saying for years that if you give poor people more money, it actually hurts them.
Have they now abandoned their priciples to pass a minimum wage increase, or is this just a cheap political ploy to gain votes?
July 4th, 2006 at 2:08 pmOh, great, the cents will compensate the price of oil needed to go to work, and thus, the workers will be... at the level of four years ago... maybe.
July 4th, 2006 at 2:08 pmEven if they pass a wage increase, I don't see how that can help them. They spent the past ten years arguing against it, by now most voters know they would abolish it if they could. An increase would be a win for Democrats.
July 4th, 2006 at 2:23 pmIn recent House action repealing the Paris Hilton tax (i.e., the estate tax), the House passed a bill which indexes the exemption level to inflation, so that the exemption rises each year. Will the House GOP leadership also demand such indexing for the minimum wage? I wouldn't bet on it.
July 4th, 2006 at 2:28 pm#7 Yes the Republican policy is to not give poor people anything as that way you keep people under control and they don't have a way to bring themselves or their children out of poverty. Keeping the people poor keeps our country working for the rich. Remember our country was built to his greatness and richness on the backs of slaves and poor. Even the White House was built by slaves. Barbara Bush said it best that the African Americans that were victims of Katrina were better off with the hand out then they were before the storm, while most of those African Americans were homeowners, successful people her mind set because of their color was like the past. Being a minority in America to the Bush Administration is still like it was before the civil rights bill past to give equal rights to all. So as you see we are returning to to past in thought word and deed. Tony Snow is making sure the Republican bass knows racism is alive and well with this Administration.
July 4th, 2006 at 2:31 pmThey will take it away again with inflation
July 4th, 2006 at 2:35 pmIn 1956 the minimum wage was one dollar per hour, one silver dollar, nine-tenths of an ounce. An ounce of silver is $11.24 spot market price. Therefore, the minimum wage should be increased immediately to $11.24 per hour to catch up to the minimum wage in 1956.
It is more economical to pay people as little as possible, let them live in their cars near the workplace where they pick broccoli than it is to house them and pay them a living wage. That isn't worth the investment.
GM is bleeding, unable to meet their financial obligations, sitting at 26 dollars a share, down from 91 dollars per share, and wondering if it might make it or not. Ford is down some 46 dollars per share.
Toyota is now the number one auto manufacturer in the world. They know how to build a product that people want. Ford and GM can't hardly give away their products, they use too much gasoline.
It'll get worse before it gets better. It's the war, but the stupid 'Republicans' can't figure it out. They're as dumb as posts. Anyone who votes 'Republican' is dumber yet.
Like anybody working for minimum wage is going to vote for a 'Republican.'
When you gas up today, you're supporting terrorism.
Happy Fourth of July
July 4th, 2006 at 2:40 pm"I have had every rotten job there ever was," said Boehner. "I could sit here for 20 minutes and carry on about all the bad jobs I ever had, and I was glad to have every single one of them. And you raise the minimum wage, you take away the first rung of the economic ladder because, particularly, people who are making minimum wage do not have skills."
Did Boehner just say he has no skills?
July 4th, 2006 at 2:42 pmI forgot a link to that quote above.
http://www.13wham.com/business/story.aspx?content_id=BB6C5A15-F4DC-4106-A374-7D3F82E5B171
July 4th, 2006 at 2:45 pmThat's brilliant, AkaDad!!
July 4th, 2006 at 2:49 pmLaugh of the day!
Its all about THEIR pay raise. The democrats have promised to block congressional raises until the minimum raise is increased! They want their increase.
July 4th, 2006 at 3:02 pmI take back what I said in #2, Boner IS a fuckwit, and he gives all fuckwits a bad name. Why doesn't he give the fuckwits a break? :P
Later all, we're off to take pictures of our beautiful country....
July 4th, 2006 at 3:08 pmComment by trueblue — July 4, 2006 @ 2:49 pm
Thanks
That stuff practically writes itself...
July 4th, 2006 at 3:20 pmThe first rung on the economic ladder for me was a used reel-type power lawn mower that earned me more than todays minimum wage on a dollar-per-hour basis (including expenses). That was 55 years ago. Not all of that was from mowing - I also repaired small engines based on what I learned getting that mower in working order. The net result of that effort was a debt-free exit from college and a 1956 Buick Special owned free and clear. My father worked for TI at the time and it is amazing how many of those semiconductor engineers did not tighten the oil drain after changing the stuff in the crankcase of a four cycle engine or did not realize that a two cycle engine required a fuel-oil mixture. Unfreezing those babies involved about 15% of my repair efforts.
July 4th, 2006 at 3:34 pmIt is a proven fact that everytime the minimum wage was raised the nation plunged into a recession and none of the bottome tier jobs were filled and the whole capitalist system collapsed.
Damn these minimum wagers, they hate Capitalism and Democracy.
-John "Dickcheese" Boehner
July 4th, 2006 at 4:18 pmI would feel much better if Bush would say; "I will not issue a signing statement if this bill passes....."
July 4th, 2006 at 4:20 pmSo far, as my look-see goes, the repubican senate hasn't been public friendly at all, instead they seem like corporate stepford wives.
It is a proven fact that everytime the minimum wage was raised the nation plunged into a recession and none of the bottome tier jobs were filled and the whole capitalist system collapsed.
And yet the price of fuel nearly doubles and capitalism system of exploitation doesn't crash.
I mean, if I say I am a Capitalist shouldn't I exploit every avenue to get more money for the work I produce?
So then I am a liberal capitalist that wants to destroy the Capitalist system of exploitation by myself being a Capitalist?
So by this odd capitalist logic, Exxon and other largesse are trying to destroy the Capitalist system by raising prices because they are Capitalists?
Bummer.
July 4th, 2006 at 4:26 pm#23 - Cool Breeze,
July 4th, 2006 at 4:43 pmGee, isn't it ironic that Exxon and Enron sound so muck alike?
Let's take a guess, how generous are the Republicans feeling... $.50, maybe $.75 /hour increase? The Democrats will want more than that and then the bill will fail and the Repubs will blame the Dems for not passing the pittance that the Repubs offered to the working poor. Just another scam by Gingrich/Delay Congress.
July 4th, 2006 at 4:45 pmSure those in Congress want their raises so they can keep their vacation homes, and they'll do whatever they can to give themselves those raises even if they have to raise the minium wage, but they're not going to give an increase that amounts to anything. I say $.05 to $.10 an hour.
And then I suppose every adult who works for minimum wage will throw themselves at the feet of every Republican in Congress in undying gratitude.
Then we'll hear from every Bush Republican and every TV newsreader and every pundit and every Bush supporter about how the economy will now forever be ruined, and they will rub the noses of every Democrat in it for years to come.
July 4th, 2006 at 5:23 pmOff-topic, but what happpened to the thread on N. Korea's missile tests?
July 4th, 2006 at 5:44 pmIt's back, sorry.
July 4th, 2006 at 5:46 pmGee, isn’t it ironic that Exxon and Enron sound so muck alike?
not really my friends, simply verbal math. the moustache of wisdom has been sent thru the time neutral euphemistic portal of the internet >>--woosh---->> .:""""":.
you see folks simply;
Ex|xon [Ex=Out]
-En|ron [En=In]
En and Ex that equals 6
And on + on also equals 6
X+R also equals 6
You see, both are interchangeable, matter and anti-matter, X or R, as einstein stated, these are all interchangable at the the quantum level. EX is out, En is in, in,out, up, down, left right, waves of energy, satan, particles of corporate ignorance and greed flow invisibly and irreversibly from one CEO to another.
Ironic?
July 4th, 2006 at 6:27 pmNo. It's only the debbil.
Cool Breeze:
2 questions...
1) What are you smoking?
2) Can you send it to me?
July 4th, 2006 at 6:46 pmme too!
July 4th, 2006 at 6:58 pmCool Breeze - I wouldn't send it unless you vacuum seal it and send it Express. That usually works.
As for minimum wage - bah-humbug. Let the states figure it out individually. Doesn't this make more sense considering the widely varying costs of living across the nation?
July 4th, 2006 at 8:00 pmShould I be concerned if #29 makes sense to me?
July 4th, 2006 at 8:03 pmI may be having a heat stroke...
#29 - Cool Breeze,
July 4th, 2006 at 9:20 pmEinstein is a proper name and should be spelt with a capital 'e'. Otherwise, your logic passes with scientific impunity.
#32 - Chase,
July 4th, 2006 at 9:33 pm5 year-old granddaughter earns well above the minimum wage, model with a SAG card. All it takes is a captivating smile and the ability to follow photogs' instructions.
#35 - Walt - What?
July 4th, 2006 at 9:48 pm#36 - Chase,
July 4th, 2006 at 10:04 pmWhat - what? She gets $200 per sitting plus residuals. A sitting lasts for about two hours. The residuals often come back in the thousand dollar range but sometimes have been in excess of ten grand.
Should I be concerned if #29 makes sense to me?
I may be having a heat stroke…
Comment by Zooey aka Zookeeper — July 4, 2006 @ 8:03 pm
the only thing i "got" from that was the moustache of wisdom being sent...
July 4th, 2006 at 10:05 pmthat was good... the artist in me...
and having seen the friedman comics...
#36 - Chase,
July 4th, 2006 at 10:14 pmOh and SAG means Screen Actors' Guild.
#39 - Damn that's a nice gig!
(But what does that have to do with the minimum wage?)
July 4th, 2006 at 10:47 pmBoehner, very bad economic policy? So are all the PAC'S and political
contributions a very bad economic policy to score a vote so these crooks
outsource american jobs through NAFTA/CAFTA, what a bunch of CROOKS!
Just shows who congress is serving WHO... campaign contributions
or the american people for what barely poverty pay
Personally, i get MUCH better service at Mcdonald's then a bunch
July 4th, 2006 at 11:13 pmof high class thieves, all of them GET ALL THE LOBBYISTS, CONGRESS,
SENATE, & PRESIDENT out of there and restore them with some people
who will FINALLY serve us with the 50% in taxes we pay for service
As a resident and native of Pennsylvania, which just approved a minimum wage increase under Gov. Rendell, It's no surprise that the Repuklicans are trying to take credit away from the Democrats for coming up with a wage increase.
It's time for those bureaucrats to realize that stealing ideas from those who mean well will make them more worse than they are right now.
Re-elect Rendell in 2006. He's got a plan
July 4th, 2006 at 11:18 pmDo not vote for Swann. He's got none.
#38 - That's funny, katy. Actually, the only thing I "got" was It’s only the debbil. It must only work if you are actually having heat stroke. ;)
July 4th, 2006 at 11:32 pm#40 - chase,
July 4th, 2006 at 11:37 pmActually, nothing less than that life is not always fair. I have crossed paths with children and adults who will suffer forever from their lot in the poker game of life. The Grandbabe happened to draw a high card.
Actually, the only thing I “got†was It’s only the debbil.
Comment by Zooey aka Zookeeper — July 4, 2006 @ 11:32 pm
ah ha! well, i'm not proud - true confession: i looked it up! then it hit me!
July 4th, 2006 at 11:57 pmduh! (uh, well - devil, right? ) (please, cause i'd hate to be so stupid here is public!)
(please please please)... :-)
Katy, it's the only thing I remember from the movie "The Waterboy." Adam Sandler's mom, Kathy Bates, called everything she was a afraid of "the debbil," or in English - the devil.
July 5th, 2006 at 12:05 amSo now you don't have to feel stupid, but I do, because I've seen The Waterboy. :}
Zooey:
Just- Zooey.
July 5th, 2006 at 2:28 amThis is a political ploy by the Republicans to try to undermine the Democrats on this issue! The GOP will probably agree to up the minimum wage by 50 cents a hour, but after 9 years of ZERO raises it must be increased by at least a dollar an hour! Also the GOP wants to end the 40 hour work week and allow it to increase to 50 hours or more > they want workers exploited and abused more for that token 50 cent raise!
July 5th, 2006 at 2:29 am#48 - Big Jay said:
I don't suppose you have any evidence of this - quotes, inferences, anything. I seemed to have missed that item on Rove's talking points he passed out at the meeting in his underground lair.
The reality, my man, is that the "40 hour week" has been long gone if you are a doctor, an attorney, an accountant, etc.
July 5th, 2006 at 9:02 amAt this point, politics don't even matter -- thousands of families survive off of minimum wage, but are still forced to choose between medicine and childcare. Those families don't care what side of the aisle the vote comes under, they just need it done.
July 5th, 2006 at 9:45 amBingo! -- Soon, ok
July 5th, 2006 at 10:00 amo.k.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:49 amFirst time reading these insightful observations on the stain on the linen tablecloth called the minimum wage increase. Not to give up my political views albeit it ain't white rich republican but I have been watching the news and excerpts from Thomas legislative website fro the House and Senate since 1999 and every year about this time the same old flags start waving.This time the Republicans are finally backed up against the wall.In my humble opinion we will see a minimum wage increase in Nov or no later than Jan keep in mind it will go into effect 60 days after it is signed into law.So I suggest we have a take a rich republican civil servant type guy out to lunch day preferably to a biker bar somewhere like Flint MI just to say thanks for keeping the little guy down and finally letting up enough to bite you in the #$#$$%
July 5th, 2006 at 12:48 pmPost 49 chase > I am NOT big but whatever > lol. As for the 40 hour work week: any hours worked over that limit are supposed to be considered "Overtime Pay" > meaning at the rate of time and a half, so a worker gets 50% more per hour in wages over 40 hours worked, but if the 40 hour week was overturned, then NO overtime pay! GOP has advocated that for a long time now > it's called screw over average working Americans, but reward the fat CEOs!
July 5th, 2006 at 1:35 pmIn the late 70's and early 80's when iron was real iron, I remember 168 hour work weeks when pushing the product out the door. We slept in conference rooms and upper management offices. In one sequence, I did not see my helpmate for six weeks. Nine months later, our third child was born.
July 5th, 2006 at 8:35 pmYes, this is truly a "cynical ploy" but the evil liberals. But NOTHING AT ALL like the Federal Marriage Amendment. No, nothing like that.
July 5th, 2006 at 11:58 pmMinimum wage workers have minimum skillz. Why teh more cash??
July 12th, 2006 at 11:39 pmbonnie hunt helen
I Googled for something completely different, but found your page...and have to say thanks. nice read.
March 21st, 2008 at 9:58 pmMichael
I think your mother would be proud.
April 7th, 2008 at 12:36 am