Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Senate defeats Democrats minimum wage increase
Reuters ^ | 21 June 1959

Posted on 06/21/2006 10:17:11 AM PDT by Fractal Trader

The U.S. Senate on Wednesday defeated a proposal pushed by Democrats to raise the federal minimum wage in increments from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour by January 1, 2009.

Sen. Edward Kennedy, a Massachusetts Democrat, unsuccessfully tried to attach the proposal raising the wage for the first time since 1997 to a defense authorization bill that is expected to be passed by the Senate soon.

(Excerpt) Read more at today.reuters.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: 109th; freedomofcontract; minimumwage; ussenate
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last
To: Fractal Trader
Unless I missed something or am reading the Senate's website wrong THIS PASSED.

LINK

Question: On the Amendment (Kennedy Amdt. No. 4322 )

Vote Number: 179 Vote Date: June 21, 2006, 11:20 AM
Required For Majority: 1/2 Vote Result: Amendment Agreed to
Amendment Number: S.Amdt. 4322 to S. 2766 (National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 )
Statement of Purpose: To amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to provide for an increase in the Federal minimum wage.
Vote Counts: YEAs 52
NAYs 46
Not Voting 2

21 posted on 06/21/2006 10:53:20 AM PDT by OXENinFLA
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
All your points are irrelevent to real conservatives

Real conservatives oppose government control over prices. Such government control is antithetical to freedom. Communists like it however.

22 posted on 06/21/2006 10:53:21 AM PDT by Protagoras ("A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action"... Tony Robbins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: lesko

It's symbolism. If Kennnedy were serious, he would suggest $15.00 and hour.


23 posted on 06/21/2006 10:54:39 AM PDT by RobbyS ( CHIRHO)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
No one can live alone and provide any semblence of a "life" on minimum wage.

Minimum wage is not meant to be lived on. It's entry level. You know, for high school students living with parents.

24 posted on 06/21/2006 10:55:26 AM PDT by EricT. (CA conservatives only serve to inflate the number of electoral votes won by the Dems.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Soul Seeker
Besides, nothing prevents states from raising the minimum wage.

Force based control over prices which are set by two consenting parties (absent force or fraud) is bad no matter who exerts the force.

25 posted on 06/21/2006 10:55:54 AM PDT by Protagoras ("A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action"... Tony Robbins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 12 | View Replies]

To: talleyman
Yep. Minimum-wage is all about union pay. Higher minimum-wages = Fatter paychecks for union flunkies.

And the poor, the minorities, teens...you know, the people that the Rats care about so much, get screwed and uses up more taxpayer-funded programs which enriches the Dims even more.

26 posted on 06/21/2006 10:58:22 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
You have to start somewhere at 16 - 18. The initiative comes with moving past that starting point to a decent wage, but where you start should at least be "livable", I didn't say decadent.

Don't you think the pay would be more suitable to those starting out in the workforce than if it was issued by goverment fiat?

The minimum-wage prices out the very people it's supposed to help.

27 posted on 06/21/2006 11:00:22 AM PDT by Extremely Extreme Extremist
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 10 | View Replies]

To: rhombus
The "least" important, eh? I think it's key to the problems of small business.

Government control of private business transactions and the market set prices of goods and services are the key to what's wrong for small businesses. (and all other businesses and individuals)

But that's just all competent economists.

28 posted on 06/21/2006 11:02:16 AM PDT by Protagoras ("A real decision is measured by the fact that you have taken a new action"... Tony Robbins)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: lesko

You're all missing my point. I am not in favor of grants, and other entitlements. Therefore, I think that a young person 16 - 18 SHOULD be able to make it "alone" on $15,000+ per year. Then, start that journey we are all referencing, to better skills, experience and better wages. You can't even get started "on your own" at 18 on the current min wage.


29 posted on 06/21/2006 11:04:13 AM PDT by Integrityrocks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: Extremely Extreme Extremist

"Don't you think the pay would be more suitable to those starting out in the workforce than if it was issued by goverment fiat?"

I think that's what I said in part. I've had my own small business and I always paid $10.00 starting wage with no benefits. But there are too many employers who will never pay above min wage if they don't have to (hence illegals) so a mandatory realistic min, in my opinion, is in order. Crack down on illegal hiring and I'll pay more for my lettuce and cotton products.


30 posted on 06/21/2006 11:10:59 AM PDT by Integrityrocks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 27 | View Replies]

To: EricT.
It's entry level. You know, for high school students living with parents.

And if they can't afford the $200 pair of AirJordans or Nikes well then TOUGH.

31 posted on 06/21/2006 11:10:59 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 24 | View Replies]

To: Protagoras
Government control of private business transactions and the market set prices of goods and services are the key to what's wrong for small businesses. (and all other businesses and individuals) But that's just all competent economists.

Government control which includes mandating small business to verify citizenship?

32 posted on 06/21/2006 11:11:55 AM PDT by rhombus
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: AmericaUnited

Who said its for high school students living with parents? That's not true. It CAN be for them, but there are many 16 - 18 year olds on their own and they deserve a fair shake at making it without running to Uncle Sam.


33 posted on 06/21/2006 11:12:45 AM PDT by Integrityrocks
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 31 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader

$7.25? Hell why not make it $99 per hour?


34 posted on 06/21/2006 11:13:37 AM PDT by Republicus2001
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Fractal Trader
Dems float this every election cycle. If it goes through, they win and say they are looking out for the poor. If it gets blocked, they can say eeeevvvviiil Republicans want to keep poor people poor.
35 posted on 06/21/2006 11:14:46 AM PDT by Sam's Army (Back to lurking...)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
I think this is the only issue that I depart from the views of my conservative bretheren. I think the Min wage should be raised. No one can live alone and provide any semblence of a "life" on minimum wage. I do agree that with a thimble full of initiative one should make more than minimum, but if we want our 16 - 18 year old's to truely learn life skills, we need to give them an honest chance. Our economy would survive just fine with an increase.

OK, how would you like it if the government set minimum prices for bread, milk, gas, etc? Since it is unlikely you have ever run a successful business, it might help to understand that businesses exits to make a profit. Not to provide jobs. And to show the folly of your position, allow me to rework your last statement for you: Your household would survive just fine with a decrease.

36 posted on 06/21/2006 11:16:35 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
You can't even get started "on your own" at 18 on the current min wage.

Exactly! And you're not supposed to. Any 18 year kid moving out of the house and wanting to live on their own had better have some type of initial job skill, even if it's nothing more than having bumped up the pay ladder a few dollars via having worked a few years someplace while in high school.

37 posted on 06/21/2006 11:16:52 AM PDT by AmericaUnited
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 29 | View Replies]

To: talleyman

Ding, Ding, Ding...and now you know the rest of the story...


38 posted on 06/21/2006 11:17:39 AM PDT by Tulane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 6 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks
I've had my own small business and I always paid $10.00 starting wage with no benefits.

Why no benefits? Do you not believe in a "Minimum Benefit" law???

39 posted on 06/21/2006 11:18:34 AM PDT by Niteranger68 (Ninguna tarjeta verde. Ningún Inglés. Ningún servicio.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: Integrityrocks

Hardly anyone is living on that range. 90% of minimum wage earners earn more than minimum wage after 6 months on the job...

One thing is an economic fact: raise minimum wage, raise unemployment.


40 posted on 06/21/2006 11:19:25 AM PDT by Tulane
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 8 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-78 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson