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 ...
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 |
Real conservatives oppose government control over prices. Such government control is antithetical to freedom. Communists like it however.
It's symbolism. If Kennnedy were serious, he would suggest $15.00 and hour.
Minimum wage is not meant to be lived on. It's entry level. You know, for high school students living with parents.
Force based control over prices which are set by two consenting parties (absent force or fraud) is bad no matter who exerts the force.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
And if they can't afford the $200 pair of AirJordans or Nikes well then TOUGH.
Government control which includes mandating small business to verify citizenship?
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.
$7.25? Hell why not make it $99 per hour?
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.
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.
Ding, Ding, Ding...and now you know the rest of the story...
Why no benefits? Do you not believe in a "Minimum Benefit" law???
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.
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