How much emphasis have the Dems put on raising the minimum wage

[Frustratedlady]

and eliminating the tax cut to the wealthy?

It would seem to me that those two issues would bring in a lot of voters, but I haven't heard them mentioned that much.

[Captain Hilts]

1. Not enough! nt

[babylonsister]

2. Dems, and Kennedy drove this for months. put a huge emphasis

on raising the minimum wage. As the minority party, they/we were shot down.
This must change.

[sandyd921]

3. Raising the minimum wage is part of

their first 100 hours plan which they are promoting.

[nickinSTL]

4. McCaskill in MO is using it in a commercial...

she's pledging that she won't take a pay raise until the minimum wage is increased.

There's also a proposition in MO to raise the state minimum wage.

[pooja]

5. Those who make min. wage seem to vote less--though they should

vote more... they have the power by the vote. But most people aren't making min wage.. they are making above it. It feels like min. wage because all the money earned goes back out the door for bills, etc. But what most don't understand is that by increasing min wage, their own job becomes more valuable and employers must match that value. I only fear though that with increased wages it still won't erase the inflation.

Here's the problem that I see happening. With increased wages, companies compensate by pushing up the costs of products onto the consumers. At some point, it is conceivable that we would be pushing around wheelbarrows of money just to pay for something. As I see it the housing market really hurt the living wage and the costs of everything in general. If you buy a home at 350,000, you would expect an increase in the home due to equity. Is it conceivable to think that our children will be looking at paying 1/2mil. for a 2bedroom shack. And then what kind of compensatory pay will be used for labor. Cash will have to be eliminated.

Maybe I'm not understanding correctly, but it seems that the home your grandparents paid 40,000 for is worth a lot more now. And wages have increased due to these higher prices.

Also, when a bank gives out a loan, are they not just making it up somehow? They assess you as a risk by your credit score. Someone who always pays and has good standing history is someone they know will pay the mortgage. So if they lend out money and then are paid back with interest with real money, ie your labor money, they become very wealthy. Also, if you default, they own the land and can take it and sell it to someone else.

[beaconess]

6. The Dems have been all over his

And have promised to make this one of the first thing they do if they take over.

Kennedy, Pelosi Promise Quick Action on Minimum Wage if Democrats Win Congress
by James Parks, Oct 24, 2006

Two top congressional Democrats promised that if their party gains control of Congress in the Nov. 7 elections, there would be a vote to raise the minimum wage within 24 hours after the opening gavel of the new Congress.

Sen. Edward Kennedy (D-Mass.), who would chair the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee if Democrats are in the majority next year, said during a telephone press briefing yesterday:

"Let’s get a Democratic Senate, and I’ll do my damnedest to get this increased minimum wage out in 24 hours."

House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), who would become house speaker if the Democrats gain the majority Nov. 7, also has said a minimum wage hike would be on the House floor within 24 hours after the new Congress convenes in January. Kennedy is the sponsor of S. 1062, which would raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $7.25 in about two years.

http://blog.aflcio.org/2006/10/24/kennedy-pelosi-promise-quick-action-on-minimum-wage-if-democrats-win-congress/

[Frustratedlady]

8. Yes, but that is dated Oct. 24th...I heard it today...however,

I just haven't heard minimum wage mentioned that much.

Even if minimum wage earners aren't voting, their parents are. The kids earn more money, it takes some of the pressure off the parents. With the cutbacks on Pell Grants, increased interest on school loans and higher gas prices, many of the college students have had to take on low hours/low pay jobs. Many of those in that age group are already fired up about what is happening to their world, so a little hope for a few more dollars in their pockets might bring them to the voting booths. JAT

[beaconess]

10. This was just one of the more recent ones - they've been talking about this all year

I've been hearing it for months - that's how I knew that this is one of the first thing the Dems are going to tackle in January if they win.

The candidates I've been following have been hitting this issue hard. For example, in Ohio, Sherrod Brown and Victoria Wulsin have been all over this through most of their campaigns. Both of them talk about minimum wage in just about every stump speech I've heard them give. Brown has even held minimum wage events in the state. Harold Ford has also been talking about minimum wage throughout his campaign, among other things, pointing out that Corker earns 1,870 times more than a minimum wage worker.

Perhaps some individual candidates aren't pressing it for various reasons but the party leadership is pushing it hard. If particular local candidates aren't stumping on it in their respective races, it's probably because their internal polling shows that: 1) other issues are more important to the voters they're trying to convince; or 2) the voters who care most about minimum wage are already with them and, thus, don't need to be convinced.

[Warpy]

7. Not a whisper in NM

the fools. I guess they're scared to death the pubbies will beat them up with the fact that they voted a bad bill down just before the campaign season started in earnest.

I do wish they'd stop being quite so terrified. Most folks are at least dimly realizing that the GOP is a party of pathological liars. Most of their shit throwing is having the opposite effect. It's finally making people angry-----at the GOP.

[guyton]

9. double!

So has anyone seriously considered doubling the minimum wage instead of these miserly increases that have been bandied about?

It's time to bring back the middle class.

Btw, if your first thought is about job flight out of the country -- I keep thinking free trade is a good idea -- if they have at least the same minimum wage that we do!

[whistle]

11. That's because the democrats of today are like republicans

...twenty five years ago

[emulatorloo]

12. most every campaign ad I see in iowa talks about minimum wage n/t