Democrats vow to block pay raises until minimum wage increased [As predicted by yours truly]

Cnn ^ | June 27, 2006 | Ted Barrett

[Explorer24]

A week after the GOP-led Senate rejected an increase to the minimum wage, Senate Democrats on Tuesday vowed to block pay raises for members of Congress until the minimum wage is increased.

[Explorer24]

When this was posted, "Congress Gives Itself 7th Straight Pay Raise" I said the GOP missed an opportunity to demonstrate some fiscal responsibility, humility, and sympathy re: people's economic struggles and the deficit. Some took issue with my point. Well, turns out a Dem lurker was reading, because now they've turned this around into a political gain for them. The dems are capitalizing on this.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1648826/posts

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1648826/posts?page=42#42

[CrawDaddyCA]

I said the GOP missed an opportunity to demonstrate some fiscal responsibility, humility, and sympathy re: people's economic struggles and the deficit.

Politicians miss an opportunity to line their pockets at the taxpayers expense...are you high?

[USMA '71]

Not pass pay raises for themselves - sounds fine by me!

[The Bat Lady]

so the congress won't get their pay raises until there is a minimum wage?

so what?

don't give them the minimum wage ......... and don't pay Congress the pay raise......... so what?

[FlashBack]

A win / win siuation for the rest of us!!

[white trash redneck]

The RATs for fiscal discipline and lower government expenditures? Works for me.

[Just A Nobody]

vowed to block pay raises for members of Congress until the minimum wage is increased.

Sounds like a win win to me. Saves the taxpayers money all the way around.

The federal government has NO BUSINESS dictating what private companies must pay their employees.

We should be the ones deciding what we pay OUR EMPLOYEES in the federal government. Pretty sweet deal they have giving themselves raises, benefits and protection from laws.

[Bubba M. Aurelius]

Dereliction of duty deserves a massive salary cut as we are getting part time employees. Any discussion of salary increase is beyond ludicrous,it is an affront to each and every person who pay their salaries. When employees fail to perform, the natural consequence such as having salaries decreased or employment terminated.

[Explorer24]

Hey, works for me too. My only point was to nag on a fellow freeper and gloat a tad.

I wished the repubs could've seen this coming, but oh well, at least some in Congress are paying attention.

[JingoJim]

best of all worlds.

[Williams]

Just wondering, can they also freeze their salaries here in NJ until they prevent Corzine from putting a 7% sales tax on everything every poor person buys? How stupid are people to think the dems want to raise their wages, when govt is taking an enormous percentage of everything you earn and spend, in taxes.

Reminds me of Philadelphia placing a mandatory higher minimum wage on every business that does work for the city - meaning the city is forcing its citizens to pay a higher price for all services. Brilliant.

[builder]

YAHOOOOO!

The first thing in the Democratic platform that I've agreed with since they were forced to sign welfare reform.

Now if the Republicans do their job.....NO raises to either for years.Let's see who caves first.[I hope it is a long war]

[Lunatic Fringe]

You can't "block" something that happens automatically unless voted AGAINST.

That's how Congressional pay raises work, they get it automatically unless they vote to suspend it.

[Old Professer]

The law of putative expectations; accuse, then observe?

[balrog666]

Win-win!

[moonman]

I agree. Henry Ford invented the minimum wage, not the federal government.

[Tanniker Smith]

Good. I think Congress is overpaid anyway. Let's see them stick to that pledge.

[Explorer24]

Let's not forget the impact on illegal immigration. If employers have to pay more in wages to legal workers, guess who will get hired?

[Zeppo]

But... but... that's unconscionable. Democrats all have freezers full of cold cash that they can tap in a financial emergency, while Republicans only have, um, well, uh, some of them anyways, Indian Casinos to loot...

[Secret Agent Man]

I actually think this is not a bad idea. They should freeze their salaries for several years. This way the American people save money and also continue to have more control over employee wages.