Republican-Led Filibuster Blocks Minimum Wage Bill in Senate

[n2doc]

Source: NYT

WASHINGTON — A proposal to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10, an underpinning of President Obama’s economic agenda and an issue that Democrats hope to leverage against Republicans in the midterm elections, failed in the Senate on Wednesday.

The vote was 54 to 42, with 60 votes needed to advance the measure.

All but one Republican voted to sustain a filibuster against the measure, saying that the increase would damage the fragile economy and force businesses to cut hundreds of thousands of jobs.

Democrats were mostly united behind the bill.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/01/us/politics/senate-minimum-wage-bill.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&smid=tw-nytimes&_r=1

[liberal N proud]

1. A poll yesterday indicated that youth just are not going to vote in November

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014791181

The youth are the ones suffering most with minimum wages and have little hope of ever getting ahead. If they are not going to vote, how do they ever expect things to change?

Not voting is telling Congress to continue to obstruct progress.

[Mike Daniels]

11. Sometimes people get the government they deserve

Unfortunately, they manage to hurt a lot of others in the process.

[davidpdx]

14. I saw that as well

If it happens, it will pretty much give the Republicans what they want. I will encourage everyone I know to vote, but at the end of the day it's their choice. Apathy sucks!

[tazkcmo]

16. The faces

While I do agree with you about young folks needing to vote, the faces "behind the counter" are/have been getting older for a while now. Pay attention to the people the next time you go into a fast food restaurant, Walmart or any other place that employs folks at minimum wage and you will see more and more older faces, like mine, behind those counters or waiting those tables.

Having said that, yes, we need young folks voting so we can make progress on this and many other important issues.

[elleng]

2. BANGS HEAD!

'Politics were as much a part of the debate as the larger questions of economic impact and the vitality of the middle class. Polls show the public supports an increase. A recent New York Times/CBS News poll found that two-thirds of the public favors a rise to $10.10.

Democrats are staking their hopes of retaining a majority in the Senate on issues like the minimum wage, which they hope will allow them to appeal to voters despite the unpopularity of the president in many states and the bungled rollout of the Affordable Care Act.

Senate Democrats have drawn up an agenda centered on themes of economic equality that they have called “A Fair Shot for Everyone.” The plan includes a measure they say will close the pay gap between men and women, which also died in a Republican filibuster this month, and legislation to lower interest rates on college loans and close tax loopholes that benefit corporations with business overseas.

Republicans accused Democrats of staging a show vote they knew would never pass. . .

Though the Democrats’ attempt to overcome a filibuster on Wednesday fell short, the issue of the minimum wage is not dead yet. Senator Harry Reid of Nevada, the majority leader, could bring it back for a vote at any time.

Even if it appears unlikely that Congress will act, several states are moving forward with plans to raise their minimum wages, including some that are home to the biggest Senate races this year. In Arkansas, supporters of an increase are trying to get a measure on the ballot that would boost the state’s rate to $8.50, which Mr. Pryor has said he supports because it is less than the federal proposal. In Alaska, where Senator Mark Begich, a Democrat, is in a tight race, the issue will go to the polls in August.

The state legislatures in Hawaii and Minnesota have both recently approved minimum wage increases.'

[CatholicEdHead]

26. Even a raise to $10.10 will barely make up for recent inflation since last upgrade

For liveable standards it needs to be $20-22/hr, so it has a long ways to go.

[SheilaT]

3. Why they don't force a real filibuster

is beyond me. Make them go on record about exactly why they oppose various bills.

I bet the very vast majority of people, and especially those who would benefit from an increased minimum wage, have no idea there was a proposal to raise it, and even fewer would know exactly why it was killed: a cowardly hide-behind-legalistic-crap filibuster.

[onehandle]

4. Go Nuclear, Harry. nt

[groundloop]

5. THIS needs to make the news big time

I've heard quite a few younger Americans say "why should I vote for Democrats, what have they done for me?" Well, those people have to realize that we don't have a king but rather a President who has the authority to sign laws which are passed by Congress. When Congress is controlled by obstructionist GOPers we can't pass legislation which will help our younger voters.

GET OUT THE VOTE !!!!!!

[alp227]

13. And because of the "what have Democrats done for me" question, young people go for the dark side!

I don't know if it's mere ignorance or conscious me-first narcissism. But a lot of younger voters have a more libertarian "anything goes" view with ANY issue, beyond government issues. Hence the Ron Paul/Ayn Rand worship among younger people and knee-jerk anti-authoritarianism in everything whether religion, government, or even private sector.

The typical libertarian young person puts together "freedom" in everything whether speech, religion, or markets. Hence the reason why they'll buy into anything "pro business" because "free market". Or they hate ANY instance of somebody being opposed for making controversial statements.

Minimum wage? "Just work harder," they say, because they have too much pride to "rely on government" or "have anything handed to them". Regulations? "Let the free market decide."

The me-first, community-second of too many people in America is the reason why our politics is so screwed up. Not just young people, really.

[mvd]

15. Good point

What the Libertarians also forget is that government helps to make the market free with regulations. Otherwise you see what has happened - power concentrated in a few big corporations and the 1% getting the benefits.

Got to keep trying on the minimum wage and make it an election year issue.

[DreamGypsy]

6. As one would expect, Reid switched his vote to No...

...from AP, via ABC news: Senate bill to raise federal minimum wage falls short in Wednesday vote

The vote was 54-42 in favor of allowing debate on the measure to procede, six votes short of the 60 Democrats needed to prevail. Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn., was the only voting Republican to cross party lines and vote "yes." Reid switched his vote to "no," a procedural move that gives him the right to call another vote on the measure. No other Democrats opposed the bill.

[jwirr]

7. I think he does that so that it is not dead in the water - he can bring it up again.

[tazkcmo]

18. And I'm sure

Rethuglicans will say, "Even Reid voted no!" as they are consistent in using half truths (as well as out right lies) to muddy the waters.

[Ash_F]

8. Put it it up for vote as often as possible. Campaign on it.

If you want to win in 2014, you better find your stones quick.

[Wellstone ruled]

9. Looks like it is a dead issue.

Notice all the side comments coming from the Rethug potential 2016 Candidates. Appears the Rethugs have gone into a all in strategy believing their polls of a Senate take over in 2014 and we ain't doing a dam thing to help this nation. Still say that there will be some stupid attempt to impeach our President starting the middle of November. If anyone noticed the Nader comment yesterday,some dam shit is in the works.

[tofuandbeer]

10. Shocking! And if they do (God help us) take control of the senate in the mid-terms,

their first piece of work will be to get rid of the filibuster.

[Fred Sanders]

12. To be dutifully reported by the MSM as having "failed" without mention of Republican abuse of

the filibuster in record numbers on everything.

[bluevoter4life]

17. Didn't Reid go nuclear

To prevent this sort of thing? What loophole did they find to filibuster? I know I missed something.

[n2doc]

19. He only did it for Federal Judge appointments

All other Senate matters are pretty much screwed. Still.

[bluevoter4life]

21. Ah ok. Thanks for clearing that up. eom

[Ash_F]

23. And there are still 86 vacancies

ahh...congress

[n2doc]

24. Yes, because of course there still is a lot of crap the repubs can pull

delay, delay, delay.

[blkmusclmachine]

20. ,

,

[Estrella Fugaz]

22. Amazing

Is that how they intend to get people to vote for them?

[n2doc]

25. No, they get people to vote 'for' them by making them fear and hate other Americans

fear- that raising the min wage will increase the prices they pay, or cost them their jobs. Hate- that the 'other' people might get more money.