Senate Hikes Minimum Wage

ABCNews.com ^ | 2/1/07 | Z. BYRON WOLF

[conservative in nyc]

It needs to go to a conference committee to iron out differences between the House and Senate versions, and the conference committee report has to be voted on again. Then, it will go to the President, who I'd bet my bottom dollar will sign it.

As best I can tell from looking at the amendments offered in the Senate, the minimum wage wasn't extended to American Samoa - unless something snuck in today. I don't even think the issue was raised.

[TheBattman]

The minimum wage hike is one of the biggest fiascos out there.

It benefits relatively few. When even formerly "Minimum wage" jobs don't even pay that low, what is the point?

Further - the unions like it because so many of their contracts are based on a multiplier of the minimum wage.

Politicians like it because they then claim to "care for the poor worker". I don't know about you - but the only people I know working for "minimum wage" are entry-level jobs primarily occupied by high school students. Heck - I made more than the current minimum wage while I was working at a pizza joint in college...and that was 14 years ago...

And as I heard discussed a few weeks back when this minimum wage junk first started getting lots of press - it says something for the "quality" of worker if they continue to make minimum wage for ANY significant length of time after hire...

Heck - even the illegal Mexican & Central American laborers around here make a lot more than minimum wage (within 2 miles of where I sit typing this post, there are probably 20 illegals who make between $10 and $12 per hour, not to mention that housing is provided).

There is a grand total of TWO businesses within two cities of me that pay minimum wage - a grocery store and a Sonic Drive In. And even those don't keep you at minimum wage for too long...

[Desperately Seeking Freedom]

Bush should veto this. Of course, he won't. He's too busy railing against CEO salaries to fuss with this.

[conservative in nyc]

Is this the version with or without the "Schumer-Gordon Smith (R-Ore)" domestic-partner benefit provision slipped into it (in the dark of night)?

Are you serious? Chuckie didn't even bother to show up to vote for the bill.

[EagleUSA]

Well these anti-American bastards had better not whine about the balance of trade any more --- they just drove off about another million jobs offshore. If there any left to drive off.....

Freaking idiots. All for votes and buying more socialism.

[EagleUSA]

Bush should veto this. Of course, he won't. He's too busy railing against CEO salaries to fuss with this.
------
He is useless. He does not know what a veto pen is ---

[Screamname]

And here comes more illegals being hired.

[right-wingin_It]

Are you serious? Chuckie didn't even bother to show up to vote for the bill.

oh, I guess it's a no then...which is a relief. See I heard it was going to be blocked...but then I read something from the FRC I think that said Chuckie was gonna try to sneak it in..Maybe what I read was dated

[TheBattman]

I like it! Someone needs to do a Photoshop of that idea!

[Jagman]

You got that right. The guy with two year's tenure currently making $7.25 will want a raise, as will the guy making $10, $15, etc.

The most hysterical part will be when this happens, Democrats will condemn the greedy shop owners for passing these increases along to customers...

[stylin19a]

If it did get slipped in, do they have to pass it back to the house ?

[mewzilla]

The most hysterical part will be when this happens, Democrats will condemn the greedy shop owners for passing these increases along to customers...

That's gonna be kinda hard for them to do, though, if Starkist gets to opt out....

[TheBattman]

With few exceptions, Senate Republicans are a cowardly, unintelligent, unprincipled lot. Pathetic.

And they refuse to understand that those traits cost them more in the last election than did the supposed "Iraq problem"...

[NittanyLion]

I'm surprised that ABC used such a mild term as perceived. I would have expected them to use "blatant."

They should have. I'd say that blatant is the most accurate descriptor available.

[MrLee]

What are the tax breaks for "small businesess"?

[Suzy Quzy]

Schumer didn't VOTE on such an IMPORTANT thing????? Out HAwking his book!!

[dearolddad]

With few exceptions, Senate Republicans are a cowardly, unintelligent, unprincipled lot. Pathetic.

Sorry to say that you are RIGHT ON!!

[Mo1]

I haven't seen it the Senate .. but in the house there was this ... it was introduced AFTER the bill was passed in the House


http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/D?d110:5:./temp/~bdD8DZ::|/bss/110search.html|


H.R.509
Title: To apply the Federal Minimum Wage to American Samoa.
Sponsor: Rep Kirk, Mark Steven [IL-10] (introduced 1/17/2007) Cosponsors (4)
Related Bills: H.R.2, S.2
Latest Major Action: 1/17/2007 Referred to House committee. Status: Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.

[italianquaker]

I hope "they" are glad they didnt vote, wanting Bush to veto bills that get passed is not going to happen, voting in the next election would handle that

[mc6809e]

Crime will rise with teen unemployment. What's more, we'll probably see more teens involved in drug crimes.

In fact, the lowest soldiers in drug gangs actually make less than minimum wage - legit work that pays below minimum wage is illegal. We know this from financial records that have been recovered.