Senate Ponders Increase in Minimum Wage

[CitySky]

Politics
Senate Ponders Increase in Minimum Wage
by Kathleen Schalch

Morning Edition, March 3, 2005 · The Senate will debate a measure that would increase the nation's minimum wage, which currently stands at $5.15. Democrats are pushing for an increase of about $2 per hour while Republicans favor a smaller increase. Many business groups oppose the proposed hike.

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You can listen to the whole story on the NPR website.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4520848

Now I've read the LBN rules, so will refrain from posting a link on how to contact your Senators about this... but y'all know how to do that already, right?

Peace!

-Sky in Houston

[Mari333]

1. Politicians on both sides should be forced

to live on 5.15 an hour for a year.

[murray hill farm]

5. Absolutely....!

Six months of living on min wage should be a prerequisite for running for any political office...and maybe that should be followed by 6 months on welfare...i would like that..ha!

[Itsthetruth]

2. Go Ahead And Post

I don't think there is any rule that prohibits posting links to Senators urging them to support an increase in the minimum wage.

I can't imagine anyone here opposing such an increase.

[Itsthetruth]

3. Here's A Link

Here's a link to all of the Senators websites and e-mails.

http://www.senate.gov/general/contact_information/senators_cfm.cfm

[CitySky]

4. dupe

deleted on edit

[GOPBasher]

6. Even Republicans might do something good???????

What the hell is going on? It's not even an election year!!! :shrug:

[CitySky]

7. um, actually...

Senator Kennedy (D-MA) is introducing the measure as an add-on to the bankruptcy bill, which otherwise stinks to high heaven. But while it's on the table I think we should make a lot of noise supporting it.


Even R's have to acknowledge facts: (1)federal min wage hasn't changed in 7 years, and that's the second-longest "freeze" in that figure since it was introduced in the 1930's! (2) person working 40 hours a week 50 weeks a year on current min wage makes a whopping $10,700 a year. That's the figure I used in my email letters, not $5.15 an hour. $10,700 a YEAR.

"Any business owner paying a full-time, adult worker $10,700 a year is saying, in effect, to other business owners, 'I want YOUR employees to purchase MY goods and services, but I'm not willing to pay my employees enough to purchase YOUR goods and services.'" My Senators are R's, so I used that line in both letters -- borrowered it from a fellow DUer! :)

[GOPBasher]

8. I see, and I like your way of putting it.

I should start doing that. I always argue this issue using $5.15/hr, which sounds bad as it is, but I should do as you do, using the annual figure, which illuminates better how pathetic it is.

[Democrat 4 Ever]

9. Anybody smell a rat? I am glad they are discussing raising

the minimum wage - nobody can even begin to live on such a low wage - even part time students can't purchase car insurance and gas money on such a wage and they are living at home with no expenses, much less a bread winner trying to hold it together for a family on $5.15/hr. Wish all Congressmen had to live a year - without access to their many millions as a back up - just to see what they are demanding of others. Anyway...

King Chimpy is tanking in the polls, the American people are telling the repugs they don't support the war, the Official Repaying of Wall Street Donors Through the Trashing of Social Security" Plan, to keep their whore mongering ways out of Iraq, Syria, etc. So...time for a smoke screen.

Of course they aren't going to raise minimum wage - too many of their donors will raise hell, but it is good fodder for the Sunday morning talk shows. Who can think about Social Security, Guckert/Gannon, war, anything as long as "we" have a chance to see 10¢ on the hour increase in our pay?

I don't trust a single thing that comes out of this Congress or White House. If in doubt, be sure and re-read the Luntz GOP Playbook.

[ElectroPrincess]

10. Here's a suggestion - since we are in financial crisis and all our

Senators are Millionaires (or so close to be negligible), why don't THEY donate 25% of their present salaries to the goal of raising the minimum wage.

Show us YOUR patriotism through a little *real* sacrifice you arrogant, wealthy politicians?

[Langis]

11. Please let this pass! If they are able to add this to the bankruptcy bill

It may just kill it! Even if it doesn't kill it at least "something" good will come out of it. Call your Senators and show your support for this amendment to the bill.

[asjr]

12. And they will continue to ponder and ponder and ponder.

[hatrack]

14. Yeah, they've been pondering this for, what, 10 years now?

:eyes:

[napi21]

13. Too bad it isn't a mandatory that every person who graduates

from HS or college doesn't have to live on minimum wage for 12 months as a requirement to receive your diploma. I was appaled when a caller on cspan said he couldn't understand how anyone could possibly survive on $1,700 a month SS. I don't remember where he was calling from, but he sure is out of touch with reality! Hell, my husband works full time and his take home pay isn't that much!

[Commie Pinko Dirtbag]

15. In other news

Many business groups are still pissed that slavery has been outlawed, lobbying heavily for "flexibilization".

[TahitiNut]

16. Here's a graph showing the Federal Minimum Wage history ...

... including a deduction for OASDI/HI premiums (i.e. "payroll taxes").

[ernstbass]

17. What in the hell is there to ponder?

I'd like to see them live on minimum wage for one week!

[beyurslf]

18. It is a disgrace that the min wage is still 5.15 an hour.