Pelosi backtracks, now says Samoa NOT exempt - FOX

Me | 1/12/07 | georgiadawg32

[GeorgiaDawg32]

Video link on foxnews website, www.foxnews.com left side of the screen..

According to FoxNews, pelosi now says Samoa is INCLUDED..

Her trickle-up theory apparently won't go over very well with the people there, as their representative had this to say (pay attention to para 2) regarding the devastation of the Samoan economy if this goes through:

"In a statement in response today, Faleomavaega (American Samoa delegate) said "despite recent claims made by the Washington Post which suggest that American Samoa is exempt from the federal minimum wage process, I wish to set the record straight." He says since 1956, the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor has conducted Special Industry Committees every two years in American Samoa to determine minimum wage increases.

"While these Industry Committees have been phased out in other US Territories due to their more diversified economies, American Samoa continues to be a single industry economy. In fact, more than 80% of our private sector economy is dependent either directly, or indirectly, on two U.S. tuna processors, Chicken of the Sea and StarKist. As has been repeatedly stated at our Special Industry Committees, a decrease in production or departure of one or both of the two canneries in American Samoa could devastate the local economy resulting in massive layoffs and insurmountable financial difficulties," the Congressman says.

"For this very reason, I do not support efforts to apply mainland minimums to American Samoa at this time. The truth is the global tuna industry is so competitive that it is no longer possible for the federal government to demand mainland minimum wage rates for American Samoa without causing the collapse of our economy and making us welfare wards of the federal government."

[CharlesWayneCT]

Headline is Faulty (Fox's fault, not the poster).

Pelosi wasn't backtracking, she was explaining that there IS a minimum wage, it is set by some committee, and that it is much lower than their federal minimum but has to be that way because otherwise the companies would go out of business.

Doesn't change her bill, just her way of trying to explain it.

[conservative in nyc]

The bill is already passed, right? How do they correct an oversight? Pass a 2nd bill, retracting the first?

I don't think the Senate has passed any minimum wage bill yet. One way to "correct" the "oversight" would be for the Senate to pass a slightly different bill, and have the House-Senate conference committee add a minimum wage hike provision for American Samoa. Another way would be to pass an entirely new bill.

[libill]

Keep up the pressure. This is only the beginning. They have been shooting their mouths of for years now. Criticizing everything and sometimes even telling outright lies. Not everything were the deeds of Ms. Pelosi, but she has been and is now the head cheerleader.

The Dim's must be held to account.

[Last Laugh]

yeah but increasing the minimum wage is BAD, right?

perhaps there is more than enough partisan selective enforcement to go around for both parties, huh?

Pelosi is bad all around. No need to be party selective. The minimum wage law s BAD..exempting 1 company from the travesty is also Bad.

Pelosi is Bad for the USA. This goes beyond party. The woman is a shill for the DEVIL, for SOCIALISM, for everything wrong with this country,

The only good thing about mommie dearest, is, maybe, next, time a vote comes up, some conservatives will grow some BRAINS and vote the beatch out!

[libill]

lol...I like your comment. The ripple effects from this will be huge.

The road to the hot place is paved with good intentions.

[conservative in nyc]

Headline is Faulty (Fox's fault, not the poster).

Tomorrow's Washington Post article (Minimum Wage Hike May Reach to Samoa) begs to differ. From the article:

"I have asked the Education and Labor Committee, as they go forward with the legislation, to make sure that all of the territories have to comply with U.S. law on the minimum wage," Pelosi announced yesterday.

Pelosi aides said the committee would be asked to work toward having all territories use the same wage standard.

[Sender]

That'd be a $36,500 per hour cost increase for the tuna processing industry in Samoa. I'm being repressed by The Man!

[zendari]

In San Franscisco? Theyre too stoned to do anything else but vote for Pelosi.

[Sunsong]

Thanks for that. Looks like we need to keep an eye on this bill. It would be nice if this led to some real debate and discussion of the actual impact of minimum wage laws.

[Peach]

Excellent post.

[Experiment 6-2-6]

I would love for a Wal-Mart to open here.

For now, we are just stuck with a Cost-U-Less...

[Experiment 6-2-6]

This is going to have a big impact on the businesses in American Samoa..

The economy will suffer, as Star-Kist will just shut the American Samoa plant down and relocated to Samoa (85 miles West) and just can the fish there or in Ecuador..

[Experiment 6-2-6]

That hasn't happened since the missionaries arrived in the mid 19th century...

[Experiment 6-2-6]

what's the bottom line here - will the samoans be getting the higher wages?

Not while Ecuador allows $0.35 an hour to do the same thing. Which is why the fishing fleet has moved to South America and now unloads there, as the cannery can afford to pay more for the caught fish..

[do the dhue]

Dem are rats!

[headstamp]

"The truth is the global tuna industry is so competitive that it is no longer possible for the federal government to demand mainland minimum wage rates for American Samoa without causing the collapse of our economy and making us welfare wards of the federal government."

Er, that's exactly what the Democrats want. They can build yet another dependent constituency.

[Grampa Dave]

Nancy stinks of tuna. She needs to douche.

The evil spirit and DNA of Il Douche lives and thrives in Evita Pelosi.

"

[highlander_UW]

As has been repeatedly stated at our Special Industry Committees, a decrease in production or departure of one or both of the two canneries in American Samoa could devastate the local economy resulting in massive layoffs and insurmountable financial difficulties," the Congressman says.

So the dems DO understand that their policies damage the economy and hurt people...so they've moved from incompetent to evil.

[Elsie]

I wonder if we have a FR W.I.C. expert, someone who knows how products become W.I.C. eligible and how the corporations are paid for those products.

I really don't care, for WIC itself is part of the problem!

Sure, it's 'For The Chilrun', but instead of SOLVING the problem; we get MORE because we PAY for it!

[Elsie]

Yes, I have heard the charges of "hypocrisy".........but isn't the bigger objective far more important?

The 'Unintended Consquences' are KILLING us!