Thursday, June 22, 2006

Senate Kills Minimum Wage Increase Amendment

"When the Democrats control the Senate, one of the first pieces of legislation we'll see is an increase in the minimum wage," said Senator Edward Kennedy (D-MA).

If this is true, Senator, why is the minimum wage so low? Did the last Demcoratic-controlled Senate pass an increase to minimum wage? I don't think so! Why should we believe you now?

Kennedy is one of the few Democratiic leaders I still respect. With statements like that, however, he is losing me fast.

GOP-run Senate kills minimum wage increase
By DAVID ESPO, AP Special Correspondent

The Republican-controlled Senate smothered a proposed election-year increase in the minimum wage Wednesday, rejecting Democratic claims that it was past time to boost the $5.15 hourly pay floor that has been in effect for nearly a decade.

The 52-46 vote was eight short of the 60 needed for approval under budget rules and came one day after House Republican leaders made clear they do not intend to allow a vote on the issue, fearing it might pass.

The Senate vote marked the ninth time since 1997 that Democrats there have proposed — and Republicans have blocked — a stand-alone increase in the minimum wage. The debate fell along predictable lines.

"Americans believe that no one who works hard for a living should have to live in poverty. A job should lift you out of poverty, not keep you in it," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (news, bio, voting record), D-Mass. He said a worker paid $5.15 an hour would earn $10,700 a year, "almost $6,000 below the poverty line for a family of three."

Kennedy also said lawmakers' annual pay has risen by roughly $30,000 since the last increase in the minimum wage. . . . Read more


These Americans in whom we have entrusted the power to run our government, think that Americans can survive on $5.15 per hour (which as a full-time wage is $6,000 under the poverty line):

Alexander (R-TN)
Allard (R-CO)
Allen (R-VA)
Bennett (R-UT)
Bond (R-MO)
Brownback (R-KS)
Bunning (R-KY)
Burns (R-MT)
Burr (R-NC)
Chambliss (R-GA)
Coburn (R-OK)
Cochran (R-MS)
Cornyn (R-TX)
Craig (R-ID)
Crapo (R-ID)
DeMint (R-SC)
Dole (R-NC)
Domenici (R-NM)
Ensign (R-NV)
Enzi (R-WY)
Frist (R-TN)
Graham (R-SC)
Grassley (R-IA)
Gregg (R-NH)
Hagel (R-NE)
Hatch (R-UT)
Hutchison (R-TX)
Inhofe (R-OK)
Isakson (R-GA)
Kyl (R-AZ)
Lott (R-MS)
Martinez (R-FL)
McCain (R-AZ) (You see! He is a bad man!)
McConnell (R-KY)
Murkowski (R-AK)
Roberts (R-KS)
Santorum (R-PA)
Sessions (R-AL)
Smith (R-OR)
Stevens (R-AK)
Sununu (R-NH) (Hello people of New Hampshire!)
Talent (R-MO)
Thomas (R-WY)
Thune (R-SD)
Vitter (R-LA)
Voinovich (R-OH)

If one of these people represents your state, please call them and say that the minimum wage should have been raised and then work against them in the next election.

See the full senate roll call here

.


Dick Mac Recommends:

Our Endangered Values
Jimmy Carter






No comments: