Minimum Wage Fight Heads To The Senate

[babylonsister]

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/07/30/washington/30cong.html?hp&ex=1154232000&en=88e6ed2e71843a94&ei=5094&partner=homepage

WASHINGTON, July 29 — A bitter fight over legislative tactics and the minimum wage shifted to the Senate after the House early on Saturday approved a $2.10 increase in the wage scale but tied it to a reduction in the estate tax and a package of tax breaks.
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In an early-morning decision that Republican leaders said they hoped would provide political benefits to lawmakers headed home for five weeks of campaigning, the House voted 230 to 180 to increase the federally required pay rate to $7.25 over three years — the first increase in nearly a decade.

“This bill actually stands a chance of being signed into law,” said Representative Frank A. LoBiondo, Republican of New Jersey. “If we really want to give relief to working men and women who deserve this change, this is the opportunity.”

But Democrats criticized the decision as a cynical charade intended to give Republicans the appearance of supporting an increase in the minimum wage through a bill that would not clear the Senate because of opposition to an estate tax change aimed at extremely affluent Americans.

“In all my years here, this is the height of hypocrisy,” said Representative Sander M. Levin, Democrat of Michigan, who said Republicans were moved to consider a raise in the minimum wage only out of fear of losing House seats in November. “If you really cared, you would have acted long ago. This is not an election-year conversion; it is an election-year trick.”

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[Monkeyman]

1. Yes it is Modrate Replugs in trouble in their district push this one

[grannylib]

2. Wow...what a great thing...first raise in 9 years, and up to $7.25 over

a three-year period...by which time, any increase will have been negated by gas prices, health care costs, inflation, and the increase in taxes on lower/middle income folks in order to fund the tax breaks for the obscenely wealthy.

God forbid they throw a bone to the poor without spreading a feast for the rich...

[Warpy]

3. It's also poison pilled to death

and I sincerely hope it dies in the Senate. I would hope the GOP would get shamed into submitting a clean bill, but you and I know that is never going to happen.

[JanusAscending]

4. I watched that Moth F****ing Fiasco 'til the closing gavel !!

What the paper reported was only a fraction of what's going to go down!! Buried in the text it states "over 3 yrs" People will skip right over that, and think they are getting something in their next paychecks , if it passes !!! We have to stress to all Americans, YOU WON'T SEE A PENNY OF IT UNTIL 2009 PEOPLE!!! It is also going to hurt more than help, for a lot of us. Especially service workers who count on tips!!! This CAN'T happen folks !!

[lovuian]

5. I predict Bush will veto this

and end of story...

[Syrinx]

6. no way

A Bush will not veto an estate tax reduction. No way at all.

[w4rma]

7. This bill will kill charities. The minimum wage increase is over *3 years*

And it won't pass anyway, because of the poison pills Repukes have embedded in it.

[anakie]

8. how can anyone survive on just over $5 an hour

$40 for an 8 hour day. More than a days work just to pay for the petrol to fill up the car. And rising all the way to $7.25 over three years. Wow. The minimum wage in Australia is $12.30 which is at least a reasonable amount.

[babylonsister]

9. That's the problem; many people can't make ends meet, while

the repugs claim it's only high school kids who work for that. They are so wrong! :grr:

[Viva_La_Revolution]

16. 20% are under the age of 20

facts are our friends. :)

[GoddessOfGuinness]

10. Tying the wage raise to tax breaks for the rich

will make the raise pointless.

The idea should be to narrow the gap between rich and poor...not ensure that it will continue to grow wider. I'm calling my senators and asking them to vote no on this, for that reason.

[bemildred]

11. It's a win win, Republican style.

You either kill the minimum wage hike or you get the estate tax repeal.
:puke:

[snowbear]

12. It's not a win-win for Republicans. Too many people see right through it.

You'd have to be in a coma over the past 6 years to not know how hard Democrats have tried to get the Minimum Wage increased.

Voters aren't buying this last minute tactic to gain political points. Look at what the package includes... Voters may be dumb, but they're not so dumb that they don't know what Republicans are "trying" to pull..

Most Americans KNOW that with a Democratic Majority, the Minimum Wage =WILL- be increased without all of those bogus bennies for the wealthy attached.

[bemildred]

13. I hope you are right. nt

[Sadie5]

14. Too many people out there

need the extra money, but by the same token, they are usually the ones who don't vote. Let's hope the Democrats stop this one cold. Too many tax deductions have already been given to the rich. The poor need the raise but at what cost?

[Viva_La_Revolution]

15. We need to get on the horn...

and make sure this dies in the Senate.

"Senator Edward M. Kennedy, Democrat of Massachusetts, said Saturday that he did not expect the Senate to approve the plan when it reaches the floor next week, which, he said, was just what the House Republican leadership wanted.

“Last night the House Republicans played a cynical game of politics with the lives of millions of hard-working American families,” Mr. Kennedy said. “I am confident the Senate will reject this political blackmail, as the House leadership is banking on.”