Posted on 01/12/2007 12:52:23 PM PST by 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."
Didn't you used to be Prisoner 6??
Careful. Someone may feel dissed by the mention of Samoa girlscout cookies. Jr Seau wants to kick some a$$.
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..
And finally, FINALLY, everybody will see what conservatives have known all along. A minimum wage COSTS JOBS.
Not when you hav to deal with all us pesky citizens.
She problably thought she was going to rule instead of goven.
The American Samoa Industry Committee is required to recommend to the Secretary industry minimums that will not be so high as to "substantially curtail employment in the industry." The Committee is required to recommend the mainland federal minimum wage unless evidence "establishes that the industry, or a predominant portion thereof is unable to pay that wage due to such economic and competitive conditions."
American Samoa industry committees in recent years have focused primarily on that part of the FLSA wage policy that advises against establishing wage minimums that might substantially reduce employment. The committee suggests that increases in the minimum wage, specifically in the tuna industry, would result in the tuna companies relocating elsewhere.
In most labor markets an increase in the entry-level wage leads to wage increases in other job classifications in order to maintain relative pay relationships.
"I made them exempt, before I made them non-exempt"
"aren't the 100 hours up yet?"
I wonder if an article or two may have been written if in 1994, Newt bypassed committees, brought bills directly to the floor, changed a super-majority rule regarding taxation and virtually spit in the face of the minority party (and the citizens of our nation) before the ink was dry on the newly elected Congressional roster?
My guess is Rather, Jennings etc. as well as the printed media would have called for a revolution.
If we could rely on Republicans being cohesive when Pelosi holds her "symbolic" vote, I would love to see every Republican stand, place their hand over their heart and state, "I support our President, the exemplary members of our military and most of all the preservation and security of our nation.....I vote present."
Then let the dems vote and show the nation how THEY really feel about our country.
EODGUY
Democrats do strange things with numbers in their emotional zeal to twist facts. This is just another example of numerical contortions. 100 hours is whatever they want it to be.
Was this another FreeRepublic outting????
If so, the brilliance of the members of this website is proven once again to be without equal !
EODGUY
"What's a Samoa? Is it a drink with an umbrella in it?"
Just ask Barney.
Good point. May Dims will be faced with this dilemna, going from constant whining to doing something productive. Huge challenge.
Should meet San Francisco requirement to oppose the military at all costs. Higher minimum wage = less folks considering the military for economic reasons. Eggzactly what you would expect from the party of the purge (don't ask don't tell being the first move purge act of the last democratic controlled branch of govt, Clinton's first term).
Think they're going to be smart/honest enough to reverse it?
we need to keep this on the front burner until the Samoans get the same minimum wage that everyone else is guaranteed!
according to nanny nancy's website, they've used 23 hours and 34 minutes of their "first 100 hours"..remember, they can claim the 100 hours any way they want..at this rate, it will take all year to use them..
http://www.house.gov/pelosi/
Insanity...doing the same thing expecting different results.
The dim-thinking killed the golden goose (auto manufacturing) now the same sick thinking is being implemented nation wide. Probably because all the manufacturing either moved south or out of the country all together.
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