Posted on 07/12/2006 2:50:42 PM PDT by NormsRevenge
WASHINGTON - Democrats gained some traction in their election-year campaign to raise the minimum wage Wednesday when 64 Republicans joined in a symbolic vote supporting more money for the nation's lowest-paid workers.
The House voted 260-159 to urge House-Senate negotiators to include a minimum wage boost, from the current $5.15 an hour to $7.25, in jobs covered by a job training bill under discussion. Sixty-four Republicans, many moderates from northern and northeastern states, joined Democrats in backing the non-binding resolution.
The author of the provision, Rep. George Miller (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif., said that while the vote was symbolic, it "proves that if given the opportunity, a majority of House members would support increasing the minimum wage."
Democrats have made GOP resistance to raising the minimum wage a key issue as they try to define differences before the November elections.
The Republican leadership, and their allies in the business community, say raising the minimum wage, which has held at $5.15 since 1997, would discourage small businesses from hiring young and low-skilled people for entry-level jobs.
But Sen. Edward Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass., at a news conference Wednesday, said it was "appalling" that lawmakers were poised to give themselves a $3,300 raise this year "yet continue to ignore the most vulnerable workers in our society."
He said that since the last minimum wage increase congressional pay has gone up more than $31,000, to $165,200, and executive pay is up 73 percent.
Kennedy and other Democrats support legislation that would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour in three steps over the next two years. He said it would directly benefit 6.6 million workers.
Wednesday's House vote followed a vote in the House Appropriations Committee last month where seven Republicans joined Democrats in backing the attachment of a minimum wage increase to a 2007 spending bill covering health, education and labor programs.
Of the 11 annual spending bills, the health and education bill is the only one the House has yet to complete this year, partly because of the question of how to handle to minimum wage issue.
___
Denver or Fort Lauderdale? That's the choice some potential Democratic presidential candidates face later this month.
The Democratic Leadership Council holds its national conversation July 22-26 in Denver and among the likely speakers are Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., and Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack.
Across the country, Florida Democrats hold their Jefferson-Jackson weekend and three White House hopefuls plan to participate — New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, retired Gen. Wesley Clark and Sen. Chris Dodd, D-Conn.
It's Dodd's first such trip as a prospective candidate.
___
Associated Press Writer Andrew Miga contributed to this report.
Very sad.
Never mind that the "raise" goes into the pockets of union workers and perpetuates the cycle of poverty, so in a few more years there'll be another demand for a higher minimum-wage.
Just sickening.
Union thugs will love this!
If law makers had the testicular fortitude to deport the 12~15M ILLEGAL aliens, market demand for workers would take care of their wages.
64 RINOs. Why do we keep electing and supporting these liberals???!
I want to ask something, though. Who works for the minimum wage? Sure, there are burger flippers who work for minimum wage, but I think that anyone else is already, through the power of the free-enterprise system, getting paid more.
Gee, I hope I get a 40% pay raise like the fry-guy at Mickey D's.
[/sarc]
I want to ask something, though. Who works for the minimum wage?
Maids in hotels and private homes, some store clerks and cashiers, and some people who rely heavily on tips etc.
Bunch of d**m cheapskates! They ought to boost the minimum wage to $50/hour. That would be guaranteed to create more wealth and jobs.
If law makers had the testicular fortitude to deport the 12~15M ILLEGAL aliens, market demand for workers would take care of their wages.
Even the way it is, except for part timers and ex-cons there are few adults receiving the minimum. The fast food places and convenience stores are starting $6 to $7 per hour here in rural PA.
Even the way it is, except for part timers and ex-cons there are few adults receiving the minimum. The fast food places and convenience stores are starting $6 to $7 per hour here in rural PA
If that's true, then it won't have much of an impact.
Holy Cow! We have 64 reps in office who don't understand basic economics?
The problem is that the public has very little understanding making it difficult for politicians to say no. (not that I'm comfortable defending these guys)
A more than $2 increase is too dramatic a change. $6 would be more reasonable and is probably below the equilibrium anyway.
Im in favor of upping the minimum, but I think where most people differ is by how much. Democrats want like, 8.50 an hour or something ridiculous like that, but only a slight change is needed. $5.15 is indeed too low, for even a teenager, so something like.. $6.25..ish..
idk, im no economist.
About 520k people make the minimum wage. There are close 74 million hourly workers and there are 151m total workers. Therefore, the minimum wage effects 0.3% of workers and 3% of hourly workers. The key stat I saw was 94% of minimum wage earners do not have a college degree while 39% of mimimum wage earners don't have a high school degree.
http://www.bls.gov/cps/minwage2004tbls.htm
Ditto.
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