Think Progress

The federal minimum wage set a new record

on Saturday “for the longest period without a raise since its establishment in 1938. As of December 2, the $5.15-per-hour wage rate has remained unchanged for nine years and three months.”



23 Responses to “The federal minimum wage set a new record”

  1. twolf1 says:

    How many pay raises did congress give themselves in that time period?


  2. Navy Vet says:

    Sounds about right for Republcans. I got mine and to hell with the rest you nerds.


  3. Marie says:

    Headline: Bush Sets Another Record.
    You’re so right Navy Vet – theirs is the party of I-got-mine, who-cares-about-you.


  4. Zimzone says:

    Hmmmm,
    About the same period Republicans have been in power, eh?
    Coincidence? Not likely.
    Deliberate? You’re getting warmer.
    Don’t Care? Bingo!


  5. RUCerious says:

    What the hell else would you expect from the donothingest Congress in history, and an administration whose priority is securing the oil in the middle east for corporate Amurika.


  6. VietVet says:

    Wow, with an increase in pay… I might be able to afford my medicare copay…my 93 yr old mother is still forced to live on $800.00 a month…while trying to decide whether to eat or by medicine. Corrupt Congressmen still get lavish pensions…..IT”S TIME FOR A CHANGE….You think?!


  7. Sharon Cox says:

    It’s time we changed the “do nothing congress” name to “did nothing good congress”…They added $3,100.. a year raise to their own pay checks every year and passed some terrible bill’s against the american public and constitution to name a couple….They did show the public some of their corruption and with any luck we will be able to uncover the rest…..Blessings


  8. ForTruth says:

    Those stinking poor people don’t need no wage increase, pass the lobster.


  9. dlet says:

    I read an article over the weekend stating that it was a surprise this year that with record corporate profits, Wall Street booming and unemployment at a low point that the soup kitchens and shelters are seeing an unprecedented amount of people looking for assistance. They are being inundated with new people and having to turn back many that are in need because of lack of room, food and space. One even had a corporate promise of x amount of turkeys for Thanksgiving but received only a quarter of them.

    When the real effects from our current economy rears its ugly head this country will be shocked.


  10. DRxJ says:

    Me, I’m just waiting for the day when a gallon of gas costs the same as the Minimum hourly Wage:

    I’m mean, who wouldn’t want to work an hour just to pay for one gallon of gas?
    Already, half of the average minimum wage worker’s hour goes towards gas, why not the full friggin’ hour?


  11. Zooey says:

    Wow. Doesn’t that make everyone feel proud?

    Not me.


  12. Pre-emptive Jesus says:

    America has a serious underemployment problem, with many college-educated grads making minimum wage or barely above it, trying to pay student loans on top of that. It’s pretty sad to see thousands of local kids graduating and competing for the same three jobs.


  13. The Trucker Pundit says:

    WAY TO GO, WORKIN’ POOR!!!

    WAY TO TAKE ONE FOR THE TEAM!!!!!!

    Tonite when you eat yer Hamburger Helper (without the hamburger) or yer macaroni and cheese main course, raise that glass of water and toast yerselves! You are America’s Heroes!


  14. philip crowley says:

    By all rights it should be increased to $7.80/hr to account for inflation and the extra long withholding period.


  15. Karim says:

    Every year for nine years, COngress voted to give itself a pay raise. For 10 years the minimum wage has stayed the same. Disgusting.


  16. muckdog says:

    I’d look at the Democrats raising the minimum wage by 50-cents or so. Maybe up to a buck.

    It’ll probably be the only thing they get done the next two years.


  17. JPark says:

    #15 Democrats are going to be busy fixing what you losers have been breaking for the last 6 years.


  18. JPark says:

    #13 That reminds me of Bush talking about how a single mom working 3 jobs to survive was “uniquely American”. Sure it is dolt, during Republican administrations.


  19. JPark says:

    If you are not a righty troll, muckdog, I apologize in advance. I see that that might have been despair in your post.


  20. Zooey says:

    JPark,

    Your initial thought was correct.


  21. JPark says:

    #19 Thanks Zooey, I should always go with my instincts.


  22. Briseadh na Faire says:

    The minimum wage, adjusted for an annual inflation of 4% per year over the same period, amounts to a 30% pay cut.

    Meanwhile, CEO pay has increased some 300% since 1990. http://www.faireconomy.org/research/CEO_Pay_charts.html


  23. Briseadh na Faire says:

    muckdog,

    they might not even be able to get that passed. Republicans control enough seats to filibuster any law, a favorite tactic of theirs when the don’t hold the majority. Republicans can also block a veto override attempt.

    The only thing the Republicans cannot prevent is investigative hearings.



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