Congress Poised to Vote for Higher Minimum Wage

[kurtyboy]

Source: NY TIMES

WASHINGTON, May 24 — Congress is moving this afternoon towards approving the first increase in the federal minimum wage rate in a decade, in a vote that would be a victory for Democratic lawmakers and labor groups.

The measure, which would raise the wage rate for the nation’s lowest paid workers to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 in three stages over the next two years, was attached to the Iraq spending bill. The bill also includes $4.84 billion in tax breaks on small businesses, which have made a case that the wage increases represent an economic burden to them.

President Bush has said he will sign the measure, which is expected to be approved by the House of Representatives and the Senate later tonight.

The long-sought wage increase had been approved months ago in both the House and Senate but stalled over disagreements about the related tax breaks. Republicans had sought large tax breaks for businesses.



Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/washington/24cnd-wage.html?hp

[Solly Mack]

1. The Iraq spending bill also included a number of benefits for American businesses

"Major airline carriers successfully lobbied for a provision that would relieve them of some of their pension liability. And the National Association of Manufacturers succeeded in getting the lawmakers to strike a provision that would have prevented federal regulators from adopting regulations that would pre-empt tougher chemical safety rules adopted by some states."

[Hell Hath No Fury]

2. Here you go, America...

enjoy chewing on that bone!

While more American soldiers and Iraqis die....

[RiverStone]

3. A victory at the price of moral integrity...

If it really goes down like this -

The DEMS could have gotten the wage hike without selling out the voters mandate of last November. BOTH a minimum wage hike and plan to establish a time line in Iraq are supported by a healthy majority of the American public. There was no need to capitulate (yet again).

What's the saying - rob Peter to pay Paul?

Though in this case, NO amount of pork is worth maintaining a reckless and immoral war! Believe me, the min wage hike is small comfort for a front line foot soldier caught up in someone else's civil war. And even less comfort for the worried family at home.

To those that voted for the funding bill - we will remember your names.

[porque no]

4. SNOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOZE

That's the best they got? what a bunch of bullshit. Raising the minimum wage is nice and all, for the tiny percent that it affects, but it probably does more harm than good, considering that tiny percentage versus the small businesses that see it as unneeded interference. On the whole, it's probably a loser issue, or a zero sum gain on the whole.

That's the only thing the dems can brag about? what a bunch of bullshit.

[Donnachaidh]

5. Get your talking points from FOX?

You seem to have the rant memorized. "unneeded interferance" "tiny percent it effects" "zero sum gain"

:eyes:

[Bucky]

8. That's the kind of cheap shot people use when they have nothing of substance to add

"Unneeded interferance", "tiny percent it effects", and "zero sum gain" are pretty common, boiler plate phrases used in argument. Conservatives and liberals alike have used phrases like that long before there was a Fox News leeching off the Beltway sewer pipes. By the same token I could say statements like "You seem to have the rant memorized" are used by Fox demogogues and thus you are a dittohead, too. But then that would be as full of bullshit as your post.

If you don't understand the debate the grown ups are having, then let me suggest you go to an actual playground where such playground taunts belong and see if you can't work off some of your misdirected anger.

[Donnachaidh]

9. Wow.

Pointing out that the previous poster was using ALL the Fox talking points get's me dressed down because you don't like MY post? Amazing how some people will put on the hall monitor hat, and then spout rules that should also apply to themselves.

Should I go sit in a corner too? :sarcasm:

[LostinVA]

12. He was mocking Chandra Levy's death in another thread

I always find it a hoot when posters crack jokes about raped and murdered women, don't you?

[brentspeak]

13. Wasn't it the OTHER poster who was spouting the anti-Dem B.S.?

The poster you're criticizing should actually be applauded.

[Odin2005]

10. Quit getting your economic talking points from Rush.

[LostinVA]

11. Oh boy -- try a little harder to be subtle, okay

It's less entertaining when you're not.

[CreekDog]

6. poised to vote...in the most mindbogglingly dumb way possible

to pass a minimum wage hike.

Thus, nearly all Republicans will vote for the wage increase.

Nearly all Democrats will vote against it.

I've always thought Pelosi and Reid were brilliant, but this strategy is dumb as a bag of hammers, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, dumb, boneheaded

The Iraq bill is bad enough, at least put the wage increase somewhere else.

This is just making a bad situation worser.

[silverojo]

14. You thought WHAT?

Reid is a Republican in Democrats' clothing, and Pelosi sits there like a moron, blinking incessantly. You expected intelligence from either of these jackasses?

What the world needs now is some REAL Democrats. :sad:

[Omaha Steve]

7. House Approves First Increase in Minimum Wage in a Decade

Source: NY Times

House Approves First Increase in Minimum Wage in a Decade

By STEPHEN LABATON
Published: May 24, 2007

WASHINGTON, May 24 — With a lopsided House vote, Congress moved this evening toward handing a major victory to low-income workers by approving the first increase in the federal minimum wage in a decade.

By 348 to 73, the House approved the measure as part of the Iraq spending bill and sent it immediately to the Senate, where lawmakers said they would swiftly complete action on the legislation.

The measure would raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour from $5.15 in three stages over two years. The bill also includes $4.84 billion in tax breaks for small businesses. Those businesses have made a case, supported by Republicans and the White House, that the wage increase would be a burden to them.

President Bush said he would sign the measure as part of the bigger spending package that had been negotiated in recent days between Democratic lawmakers and the administration.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/05/24/washington/24cnd-wage.html?ex=1180670400&en=6d0d091addf7638b&ei=5043&partner=EXCITE