Democrat Slams GOP on Minimum Wage Bill

[Rose Siding]

WASHINGTON -- A failed Republican attempt to tie an estate-tax cut to the first federal minimum wage increase in nearly a decade was "political blackmail" and the result of "cynical politics," Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo., said Saturday.

"Working Americans deserve a raise, but congressional Republicans keep giving them political tricks," Salazar said in the Democrats' weekly radio address. "We need a new direction for America, and a new Congress that works for our common good."
...
Salazar said the bill was an example of tactics Republicans have used for the last six years.

"I came to Washington to focus on America's great challenges, but that has not been possible in the 'do-nothing Congress' we have today," he said. "Washington Republicans have done little to address the real problems facing our country. And when they have taken action, the results have made America less safe, and the middle class of America has been forgotten."

As lawmakers headed home for the August recess -- many to campaign for the November elections -- Salazar argued that voters need to oust the Republican-controlled Congress.

http://www.newsday.com/news/politics/wire/sns-ap-democrats-minimum-wage,0,6213795.story?coll=sns-ap-politics-headlines

[catmother]

1. i am in shock. thought for sure the wage would go up. how do

they expect people to live? the price of gas is showing up in everyday goods, food, drugs. it costs more for the suppliers to deliver the goods so it gets passed on to the consumer. i've seen laundry detergent jump up $1.00.

[Rose Siding]

3. The GOP tied it to the ban on estate taxes, at a cost of 100's of billions

[LynneSin]

9. And they'll use that campaign and an election ploy

I can guarentee that any democrat who voted against it (and wisely so) who is up for re-election will have bullshit ads against them stating that "Dem Senate shows just how much he cares about you by voting against minimum wage"

They'll pull that stunt. They did it with a Social Security bill back in 2002 and the guy running against Joe Biden had ads that made Joe seem like he didn't care about Social Security even though the bill was filled with republican fraud

[OnionPatch]

13. And every Dem who has an ad like this against him

better have even more, better ads railing on the GOP for tying the minimum wage to a tax break for the rich. If they don't, they're fools.

[DallasNE]

19. Democrats Need To Rail Against Fiscal Irresponsibility

Every dime of the estate tax repeal would have resulted in an equal increase in the budget deficit, already over $300 billion.

Hit the Republicans by showing that the bill was not revenue neutral. And not by a long shot.

Next, they need to extract a promise from Republican's that they will not filibuster a clean minimum wage increase bill next year.

[liberal N proud]

12. No need to be shocked, this was the plan by the GOP all along.

That is the reason they attached the Estate Tax Repeal amendment.
Give them the opportunity to try and smear the Democrats to the rich, those who think they will be rich someday and the poor.

They sell it to the poor that the Democrats killed the minimum wage, that they don't care about them.
Then they turn to the rich and the wannabe rich and tell them that the Democrats just want higher taxes and they don't care about them.

Democrats need to attack the repukes on this again and again.

[Auntie Bush]

24. Our garbage collector raised their monthly charge $4.00 this month.

They justified it due to the cost of gas and said if gas goes higher they would increase it again. Damn! However, I'll bet if the price of gas ever goes down...the price of garbage collection will remain the same. We lose!

[grannylib]

2. Typical corrupt rePiglican tactics, to attach a poison pill to much-needed

legislation.
Can't throw a bone to the working poor without spreading a feast for the undeserving rich at the same time...

[AlinPA]

4. Plus the "mine cleanup" part would shift the cost of mine cleanup to

taxpayers away from polluters.

[ananda]

6. The new anti-pension bill was bad enough..

.. along with all the preceding bills like the one making it harder on people who file for bankruptcy.

Reeps gotta go. I Wish they were gone now.

[IndyBob]

5. Absolutely, reverse Robin Hood

tactics from the vile re-pubs. Ohh, pity the plight of the oppressed rich, who have suffered for such a long time.

Its just another step in the implementation of the 2 class system - a permanent class of 2% that own 99.9% of the wealth, and a permanent class of underlings to support them.

[TahitiNut]

7. The GOP "Minimum Wage Bill" was an abomination.

(1) An $800 billion tax giveaway to the most obscenely wealthy 8,000 families in the country.
(2) An immediate reduction of the minimum wage for thousands upon thousands of tipped service workers.
(3) Obliteration of state legislative authority to set higher minimum wages for the working poor within their states.
(4) Postponement of adjustments to the lowest minimum wages in fifty years for another three years.

That more than fifty senators would attempt to pass such a steaming pile of vomit would warrant tar and feathers if the public were sane and just.

[Zodiak]

27. Thanks for the bullet points, TahitiNut

always Johnny-on-the-spot with the facts.

Why can't you replace Donna Brasil on the talking head shows?

[Pharaoh]

8. What should be brought up

To the American people by democrats is that they must think we are stupid to try and pull shit like this, that's right, "the Republicans think your stupid"!

[grannylib]

11. Bingo - you said it. They have gotten away with so much they must think

they can act with complete impunity at this point...
And yes, they are counting on the American people to NOT be paying attention to their filthy tricks.

[rodeodance]

10. The Dems to keeping pounding them on this over and over!

[Hulk]

14. Say it LOUD, say it OFTEN!!

You better repeat this one loud and often democrats, cause the repugs have an amazing strategy of saying it often, and often, and often..and eventually, the gullible American swallows the hook, line and sinker.

In this world of simple minded voters and apathetic spectators, it's not the truth that matters...it's how often they hear the shit that matters!!

[ladym55]

22. Very true

The Repugs have created what I term "the alternate universe" or alternate reality. They spew their spin over and over and over and the less informed buy right into it. Faux and the loonies of AM radio are masters at the art of spin. :puke:

[FreeStateDemocrat]

15. Some corp media is spinning both parties at fault, many voters will

not see past the Dems voting it down. This really calls for a strong leadership with great communication skills and good media access, looks like we're out on three called strikes. Over 59 million voters re-elected the idiot so we know how discriminating and intelligent the majority is in understanding the issues.

[Rude Horner]

16. Bill Frist is just....fucking spawn of Satan

From an MSNBC article: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/14206565/

*****
Democrats, who have been agitating for a minimum wage hike for years, said pairing it with costly tax cuts for millionaires was simply too high a price to pay.

“If there were ever a clear illustration of who (Republicans) are and who we are, take a look at what happened this week,” Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., told reporters Friday.

But Frist says Democrats will be held accountable for blocking the measure.

“It is crystal clear where everybody voted on these three issues,” Frist said. “They’re voting against a majority of the American
people on each of these three issues. They’ve got to explain that.”
*****

Total slime. Just total fucking slime.

[Patchuli]

17. Ya left some out of there, Cat Killer!

Tell the folks how the Dems voted against waiters, waitresses, bartenders, etc. getting a CUT in pay, billionaires getting MORE money, and the min wage being taken out of the hands of the states and decided by the feds, among other nasty middle-class attacking policies. F*cking bastards, it's time to pull off their masks for the people to see them, warts and all. Enough of this letting them use the Rovian games. KKK is a one trick pony and the public's been boonswoggled too long now!

Enough. Let's fry 'em in the public eye!!!

[tanyev]

18. No more tax cuts unless we have a sustainable tax cut!

:patriot:

[Quantess]

20. The effect would be to lower the min wage in 7 states

Oregon and Washington are two of them.

Maybe they should legalize slavery again. But this time all races can be included. I bet CEOs wish they could.

[emald]

21. corporate power must be brought under control of people

the idea that corporations are equal to human beings in the eyes of the law is absurd. The accumulation of money that large corps can amass gives them huge power over most individuals. Nearly all the political crime we see everyday in this country results from large money holding sway over people. The nearly incomprehensible profits of the energy companies (thanks to dickless chinney) is something that people, real human beings, should hold in low regard, understanding that theft is theft even if you call it profit. These companies are stealing from america, picking our pockets clean.
No health care, pensions gone in thin air, record payments to ceo's who are modern pirates. The list can go on and on.
Jesus said in the book the neocons think answers everything, that the love of money is the root of all evil. That statement is self evident in america but GOPers are tone deaf to his words.
Surely a country where profit is everything and making it atones for the methods used (ie selling war goods to make a buck)will be a country that won't last long.

[rhett o rick]

23. Where can I get details on who this bill helps with estate tax reductions?

I was discussing this with a conservative friend. I need some specifics. Thanks. I have tried google, etc.

[boobooday]

25. Here's some info

http://www.cbpp.org/7-28-06tax2.htm

In contrast to the millions of workers who would benefit from a minimum wage increase, the House proposal to sharply reduce the estate tax would benefit only about 8,200 estates in 2011, according to the Urban Institute-Brookings Institution Tax Policy Center. These are the 8,200 estates that would owe any estate tax in 2011 if the 2009 estate tax exemption level ($7 million for a couple, or $3.5 million for an individual) were made permanent.<2> They are the only estates that would benefit from reducing the tax below its 2009 levels, as proposed in the House bill.

[rhett o rick]

29. Thank you so much. nm

[boobooday]

26. This Move is Absolutely Shameless (though not surprising)

From the people who claim they want to govern according to "Christian values."

[Zodiak]

28. I must admit that I am surprised

this this is Salazar. This man doesn't have a great record for protecting the middle class, either.

Perhaps he is turning a new leaf?