Posted on 01/12/2007 11:41:46 PM PST by JohnHuang2
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi yesterday said Democrats will close a loophole in the House-passed minimum wage increase that exempts American Samoa -- an action taken after it was revealed that one of the U.S. territory's main employers is based in her congressional district.
"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," Mrs. Pelosi said.
The decision follows criticism over the exemption, reported earlier this week by The Washington Times, to allow tuna canneries in American Samoa to continue paying $3.26 an hour -- nearly $4 less than the $7.25 minimum wage passed by the House Wednesday.
Republicans, after the vote, pointed out that StarKist Tuna, one of two companies that employs about 75 percent of the Samoan work force, is owned by Del Monte, which is headquartered in Mrs. Pelosi's San Francisco district.
"Simply put: It is unethical to provide a special benefit to a company in any member of Congress' hometown," said Rep. John B. Shadegg, Arizona Republican. "For Democrats to act in such a manner so early on in their tenure is hypocritical at best and criminal at worst."
Democrats involved in the legislation say that neither Del Monte nor StarKist has lobbied Mrs. Pelosi or the committee on the matter. And records show that while Del Monte political action committees have given $5,300 in the past five years to Republicans, neither they nor Del Monte executives have given to any Democrats.
The bill, which raises the federal minimum wage $2.10 from $5.15, pointedly extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the Northern Marianas Islands, another U.S. territory in the Pacific with similarly low
(Excerpt) Read more at washtimes.com ...
So I guess a payraise is ok...as long as you don't live in American Samoa. Some folks up in Alaska would say that the payraise ought to be triple of what Pelosi recommended. Sounds like we need a pay standard for every single state...and just leave congress out of this mess.
ping
The Washington Post version of this story says that Pelosi *may* close the loophole - not that she *will* close it. We need to watch this closely. As of now - Samoa is exempt and Ms. Pelosi's husband has a huge financial interest ($17 million in shares) in Del Monte which owns StarKist!
I can't stop laughing at that one!
And Democrats say they are the party of the poor...
BFFR
Sorry, ???
I wont/can't vouch for it, but read it last night.
I wish each individual could pick and choose WHERE their taxes go.
As for me a couple I would give to: the military, space program.
A couple I wouldn't give to: welfare, congressional pay raises.
As I was trying to find something, anything, on this at cnn.com, msnbc.com and other drive by media, I found a Dept of Labor website on American Samoa and the minimum wage. Interestingly, the site acknowledges that in Samoa the minimum wage is lower than on the mainland, and states that the program is to increase the minimum wage there slowly SO AS NOT TO CURTAIL EMPLOYMENT. This is an explicit admission by government that minimum wage increase have an adverse impact on employment levels, something the Dems deny. Here is the website: http://www.dol.gov/esa/whd/AS/toc.htm
Does this mean they will have to use legal residents and pay them minimum wages in the pelosi vineyard, too?
Carolyn
Pelosi continues to prove herself a plastic politician - in the game for her own personal gain.
I guess I am a dreamer thinking people in government actually care about the people of the nation.
Perhaps most humans become "kingmakers and royals" given a slice of power - it may be our nature.
It is discouraging.
Has ANY newspaper article mentioned that Pelosi's husband sits on the board of DelMonte which owns StarKist?
Finding out that information is fabulous, but without freeping the news outlets, our legislators and FNC, it will never see the light of day.
"Perhaps most humans become 'kingmakers and royals' given a slice of power - it may be our nature. It is discouraging."
You're right...this is something that has crossed my mind as well. These blood-sucking parasites are all the same when it comes to corruption. I know it is not fashionable to discuss crimes committed by Republicans but look at the mafia-like enterprise that Tom DeLay, Abramoff, and Scanlon were running.
The only thing that has changed is that Pelosi, Boxer, Reid, and Dims are now in charge of the criminal enterprise that is Congress.
DFU, do you know anything about Paul Pelosi and Del Monte sstock? Trackback if necessary to my first post. FM me and I could possible find the site tha posted it if you need to "research" it.
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