MinimumWageIncrease

MinimumWageIncrease https://www.dailykos.com/news/MinimumWageIncrease News Community Action Copyright 2005 - Steal what you want Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:28:08 +0000 Mon, 27 Jan 2020 15:28:08 +0000 Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) Daily Kos rss@dailykos.com (Daily Kos) To Govern Or Not To Govern? That Is The Question https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/12/4/1349217/-To-Govern-Or-Not-To-Govern-That-Is-The-Question One of the most poignant lines in the movie "The Candidate" is when at the end, after being elected to the United States Senate, Robert Redford, playing the triumphant candidate, asked his most trusted advisor, "Now what do I do?"  The campaign, as we all know, bears little resemblance to the job being sought.  The nitty-gritty of governing is hard and tedious work.  It requires a sensitivity and awareness of the needs of a politician's constituency and the broader needs of the nation.  Most importantly, and clearly lacking in our current representation, it requires the courage to do what is right, regardless of future electoral consequences. The excuse we hear too often is that we are in an election cycle.  Well, we are always in an election cycle. No sooner did we say goodbye to the midterms then the focus turned to 2016.  In fact, talk of 2016 has been going on for several months now.  This creates a dilemma for those of us who simply ask that our elected officials pay attention to the needs of the country and their constituents, and stop campaigning.  The simple question is, are they ready to start governing? The more important question is, are the Republicans who now hold a majority in both the House and the Senate prepared to do the constructive work so necessary, or will they continue to focus on the best way to destroy?  To govern or not to govern?  That is the question they must answer. rss@dailykos.com (RationalPolitics) 2016 Election 2016Election Barack Obama BarackObama GOP Gun Control GunControl House ImmigrationPolicy Midterm MinimumWageIncrease Payequity Republican Senate _1349217 Thu, 04 Dec 2014 11:00:04 +0000 # 3.5: This Is What You Should Be Making This Election About, Mr. President https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/9/25/1332401/--3-5-This-Is-What-You-Should-Be-Making-This-Election-About-Mr-President <center><a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/108749564@N02/14966221370" title="press the battle icon jpg by Andy Schmookler, on Flickr"><img src="https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3895/14966221370_c82a4a5663.jpg" width="270" height="287" alt="press the battle icon jpg" style="/*float: left;*/ /*margin-bottom:0px;*//*margin-right:10px;*/" /></a></center> (This piece is a timely expansion on entry # 3 in this Press the Battle series: "<a href="http://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/09/22/1331534/--3-Calling-out-the-Republicans-Obama-Hasn-t-So-We-Must">Calling Out the Republicans: Obama Hasn't So We Must.</a>.") Summary: It is clear the Republicans, with their obstructionism, have deliberately hurt the nation. That betrayal explains why the American political system is now more dysfunctional than in generations, maybe ever. The American people are quite dissatisfied with the performance of their government, but they need help understanding where the problem lies. I ask President Obama: Why are you not using this last opportunity to tell the voters what's gone wrong, so they can use their votes to get back a government that does the people's business. Hey, Mr. President. Why aren't you out there on the hustings talking to the American people? There's an election coming up, and the American political system is more dysfunctional than it's been in generations, maybe ever. What does it mean that you, as president, are not using this last opportunity of your presidency to talk to voters about what's gone wrong with the system and what voters can do now to get back a government that does the people's business? The people know that something's gone terribly wrong, as we can see from the record-setting low esteem in which the people hold the Congress. The people's displeasure presumably that has something to do with another record the Congress has been setting in the past four years: its off-the-charts, unprecedented failure to accomplish much of anything to meet the considerable challenges our nation faces. I assume you know what the problem is -- that it's the result of the Republicans' having made it their top priority, even before you became president, to make you fail by blocking everything.  That, even though the nation faced major challenges. <ul> <li>The economy was on the edge of an abyss, with an urgent need to restore demand to stop the vicious cycle of lay-offs throughout the economy.</li> <li>Our health care system was bankrupting the country, costing twice as much as other rich nations', while leaving millions of Americans without coverage and causing the unnecessary deaths of tens of thousands of Americans.</li> <li>The alarms about the disruption of the earth's climate, from thousands of scientists around the planet, were becoming more intense as the science became ever clearer.</li> <li>The breakdown of financial regulation had helped bring on the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression, and that system needed to be rebuilt to prevent that happening again.</li> </ul> Yet on all these issues, in the first two years of your presidency, the Republicans  -- almost without exception -- did everything they could to block any kind of solution. But then, your allies had the numbers in Congress, and on three of those four problems you managed to pass solutions. With a normal opposition party, these solutions would likely have been better, but they were at least a step in the right direction. But the result of the Republicans' controlling the House for the past four years has been a record that makes the "do-nothing Congress" Truman ran against look like a model of effectiveness.  With the obstructionists having veto power over all legislation, the American government has failed to deal with a set of serious problems -- even though polls showed that big majorities of the American people (even majorities of Republicans) favored measures that were proposed: <ul> <li>Failed to enact a jobs program to put Americans back to work during a time of high and persistent unemployment.</li> <li>Failed to enact any measure to keep assault weapons out of the hands of unstable people, despite horrific reminders of the need.  (Even a big majority of NRA members favored universal background checks.)</li> <li>Failed to address the immigration issue, keeping a festering sore untreated in the body of America.</li> <li>Failed to raise the minimum wage, which is less now in real dollars than it was forty-five years ago, and which is tied for lowest among all democracies, consigning many hard-working people to poverty.</li> </ul> In every case, it was the Republicans that blocked action, making no good-faith effort to come up with solutions that would serve America. Their political strategy for getting power back for themselves - by making you fail - mattered to them more than what the needs of the nation, or the will of the people, demanded. What do you call the members of a political party that chooses to sacrifice the good of the nation to increase their power over it? Clearly, it's a betrayal of the nation.  In the dictionary, the primary definition of "traitor" is "a person who betrays a friend, country, principle..." It would be good, Mr. President, if you could go out now and call them out for this unprecedented, disgraceful betrayal of America. But such such no-holds-barred straight talk would raise the question:  "Since this has been happening from Day One, why haven't you called them out like this before?" An excellent question. But it's not the question this campaign should be about. It should be about how to set things right now. So you should just tell the people that if they want a government that will do the people's business, they've got to take power away from "the Party of No" that so clearly has another priority, and has made obstruction their tactic on every issue. Give the voters a list of things we know they want done, and tell the voters that those things can get done, but only if they will reject these lock-step obstructionists and send people to Congress who want to use our system of government the way our founders intended-- not to indulge their lust for power, but to serve the nation and its people. -- This series is appearing here in installments. Or, to see the whole series now, you can <a href="http://pressthebattle.org/category/the-series/">click here</a> and <a href="http://pressthebattle.org/join-the-campaign/">here to learn how you can help this campaign to succeed</a>. rss@dailykos.com (AndySchmookler) Barack Obama BarackObama Climate Change ClimateChange Elections2014 financialregulatoryreform HealthCareReform Immigration Reform ImmigrationReform Jobs Leadership MinimumWageIncrease Republicanobstructionism Traitor UniversalBackgroundChecks _1332401 Thu, 25 Sep 2014 20:25:01 +0000 Let Them Eat Cake (or whatever they can afford on $7/hour https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/4/26/1294832/-Let-Them-Eat-Cake-or-whatever-they-can-afford-on-7-hour Listening to the conservative arguments against raising the ludicrously low minimum wage reminds me of Marie Antoinette-type dismissiveness- although sure, she was more sympathetic as played by Kirsten Dunst and apparently the famous quote is an urban myth, but the contrast between pampered royals and starving peasants is not that far from the lunacy of CEO salaries in the billions while their minions have to work 2 or 3 fulltime jobs just to survive.  Not to mention the Walmart heiress who spent $1 billion to endow an art museum because she said "she wanted to make a difference" - as Bill Maher ranted, "How about giving your employees a raise, you deluded nitwit?"   Since obscenely wealthy people and overpaid CEOs won't change on their own - and the market isn't working its imaginary magic - it's up to the federal government to step in.  So bravo to President Obama for continuing to make the case for a long-overdue raise, and here's a musical salute to his effort: <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGdthm5hAPc">"The $10.10 Blues"</a> rss@dailykos.com (PsychoSuperMom) $10.10 10.10 MinimumWage MinimumWageIncrease Obamaweeklyaddress _1294832 Sat, 26 Apr 2014 15:21:52 +0000 Nancy Pelosi calls out Republicans on race as a factor in delay on immigration reform https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/4/10/1291062/-Nancy-Pelosi-call-out-Republicans-on-race-as-a-factor-in-delay-on-immigration-reform <a href="http://s1024.photobucket.com/user/dpk0802/media/NancyPelsosi_zpsab69f4c1.jpg.html" target="_blank"><img src="http://i1024.photobucket.com/albums/y304/dpk0802/NancyPelsosi_zpsab69f4c1.jpg" border="0" width="320" align="right" alt=" photo NancyPelsosi_zpsab69f4c1.jpg" /></a> Nancy Pelosi once again breaks through the BS  and gets to the core of the issue. <a href="http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2014/04/10/pelosi-suggests-republicans-not-acting-on-immigration-because-of-race/">Pelosi suggests Republicans not acting on immigration because of race</a> <blockquote> "I think race has something to do with the fact that they're not bringing up an immigration bill," Pelosi told reporters at her weekly press conference Thursday. Referring to GOP members, Pelosi added, "I've heard them say to the Irish, 'If it was just you, this would be easy.'" Pelosi was responding to a question about Attorney General Eric Holder's remarks at a civil rights event suggesting congressional Republicans treated him and President Obama differently than others who have held their positions. The Democratic Leader sidestepped whether she believed race was a factor in the GOP's posture, but said of congressional Republicans, "generally speaking they are disrespectful to the representatives of the President's administration, very disrespectful." </blockquote> Perhaps, if we take the GOP on directly in their stalling we can fire up our base for he 2014 elections and give them a run for their money. The strategy of playing nice provide too much cover for them. <object width="560" height="315"><param name="movie" value="//www.youtube.com/v/rqg_R9eKGaI?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" /> <param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /> <param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /> <embed src="//www.youtube.com/v/rqg_R9eKGaI?hl=en_US&version=3&rel=0" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="560" height="315" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" /></object> Update: Wesley Lowery has an even better article in the Washington Post Blog <a href="http//www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2014/04/10/pelosi-house-gop-holding-up-immigration-bill-because-of-race/">Pelosi: House GOP holding up immigration bill because of race</a> House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Cali) told reporters: <blockquote> "I think race has something to do with the fact that (the GOP House leadership) are not bringing up an immigration bill," Pelosi said Thursday morning, later adding: "I've heard them say to the Irish, 'if it were just you this would be easy.'" Pelosi's comments came after she was asked by reporters at her weekly media briefing whether or not tense exchanges between President Obama, some of his top officials and Cabinet members, and House Republicans -- most recently between Attorney General Eric Holder and Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Tex.) -- are in-part motivated by race. "I think, generally speaking, they are disrespectful of members of the president's administration," she said. "I think their disdain for anyone who disagrees with them is across the board. I don't want to go to the race piece, but I think it certainly applies to women. It's so self-evident that it applies to women." </blockquote> Later asked the same question John Boehner got angry: <blockquote>"There is no issue of race here," Boehner said, as his demeanor grew visibly bothered, and his tone turned angry. "The frustration is that the American people have not been told the truth about what happened at the IRS, the American people have not been told the truth about what happened at Fast and Furious, the administration has not told the American people the truth about what happened at Benghazi." Bohner said. "The administration refuses to tell us the truth!" an angry Boehner said before walking briskly off the podium. </blockquote> rss@dailykos.com (HoundDog) 2014 elections 2014elections HouseElectionsEmploymentNonDiscrimination Immigration Reform ImmigrationReform MinimumWageIncrease Nancy Pelosi NancyPelosi _1291062 Thu, 10 Apr 2014 18:26:21 +0000 House block bills on minimum wage, equal pay, LGBT rights, minimim wage increase, and ENDA https://www.dailykos.com/story/2014/4/9/1290880/-House-block-bills-on-minimum-wage-equal-pay-LGBT-rights-minimim-wage-increase-and-ENDA Any doubt about the importance of getting out our Democratic vote to try to take back the House, no matter what the probabilities may seem, was resolved today as House leaders shot down a slew of progressive bills described in <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/09/minimum-wage-equal-pay_n_5119152.html">Busy Day For House GOP: Blocks Bills On Minimum Wage, Equal Pay, LGBT Rights.</a> <blockquote> WASHINGTON -- In a single committee meeting Wednesday, House Republicans voted against considering bills to raise the minimum wage, reform mine safety law and expand equal pay and discrimination protections. They opted instead to move legislation generally seen as unfriendly to labor unions. A procedural maneuver by Democrats put their legislation on the minimum wage and workplace safety and discrimination before Republicans on the House Committee on Education and the Workforce, who essentially voted against voting on the measures. The move was part of an effort by Democrats to get Republicans on the record opposing raising the wage floor or bolstering workplace discrimination laws. Democrats had proposed amendments to the GOP's legislation on unions that, if approved, would have given the minimum wage, mine safety and discrimination measures a committee vote. Republicans blocked the proposals on the grounds that the amendments weren't germane to the committee vote on the union legislation, which is expected to head to the House floor. </blockquote> How depressing it is to see our government stalled out, as Republicans are happy to do nothing to run out the clock on President Obama's administration. Election experts tell us we have little chance of regaining the house. In fact, although I have not read his study, my understanding is that Nate Silver's last analysis indicates that based on current numbers we have a chance of losing the Senate. The key words are "based on current numbers" which are subject to change. We have seen much improved reporting on the ACA. If we Democrats pull all the stopped and President Obama gets fired up, shouldn't we at least try to take back the House? My impression is that "approximately" if we could poll over a 5% advantage over Republicans at a national average we could break even in the House. Perhaps, our election experts here could tell us more. What is our alternative. We are going to have to fight these elections anyway. I've never been one for the "Rah, Ray, sis, boom, bah, happy talk coaching pep talks were everyone the coach demands we give "110%." When this used to happen, I was the kind of player running out onto the field swearing under my breath about "these idiot coaches not respecting mathematics or the players." With no self deception involved, can't we come up with a 2014 election motto a little motto a little more inspiring than "let's go out there an minimize our maximum loss in the Senate folks!" In 2010, we had hardly heard of the Tea Party until they came roaring out of the summer breaks where they had been conspiring and firing themselves up. Why can't' we get all the groups this House is insulting on almost a daily basis and come roaring into these 2014 elections taking back the House and surprising the stew out of these ... annoying Republicans. Can any one else imagine how much more fun 2015 and 2016 will be if we could control all three branches of government and show the American people what a functional government can look like in the hands of Democrats who believe government can serve the common good of the people?   rss@dailykos.com (HoundDog) 2014 elections 2014elections HouseElectionsEmploymentNonDiscriminationAct MinimumWage MinimumWageIncrease PayCheckFairnessAct _1290880 Wed, 09 Apr 2014 23:25:41 +0000 Supersize Those Wages, McDonald's https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/8/14/1231137/-Supersize-Those-Wages-McDonald-s More money would work so much better for McDonald’s employees than CEO Don Thompson’s bogus budget requiring them to forego food or rely on food stamps. And welfare. And public housing. And Medicaid. That’s the real McDonald’s budget. Like other employers paying minimum wage or slightly more, McDonald’s leans on taxpayers to subsidize its payroll. Taxpayers cover the cost of McDonald’s workers’ health care and a big portion of their housing and food costs. The vastly profitable McDonald’s corporation is an unabashed welfare recipient. Coronate Ronald McDonald Welfare King.   rss@dailykos.com (Leo W Gerard) BarackObama DonThompson Food Stamps FoodStamps Living Wage LivingWage LowWageWorkers McDonaldland McDonalds Medicaid MinimumWage MinimumWageIncrease New York Times NewYorkTimes President Obama PublicHousing RonaldMcDonald StevenGreenhouse Walmart WaltonFamily Welfare welfareking _1231137 Wed, 14 Aug 2013 14:20:00 +0000 The Minimum Wage and The Two Americas https://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/5/20/1210549/-The-Minimum-Wage-and-The-Two-Americas Crossposted from <a href="http://www.hillbillyreport.org/diary/4603/the-minimum-wage-and-the-two-americas">Hillbilly Report.</a> In the primary of 2004 and 2008 there was a reason I supported the Democrat I supported for President. Despite the eventual personal failings of the candidate the message of Two Americas put forward by John Edwards really resonated with me. Of course there is a good reason for that. That message has a lot of truth behind it. I do not really believe there is any doubt whatsoever that the economic policies of our government for the last thirty years have really only succeeded in doing one thing well. Creating Two Americas. One of the very few and very rich who really do get to live by a different set of rules and get preferential treatment. Another of all the rest of us who work harder and constantly find it harder to get by. Nobody is on our side. rss@dailykos.com (RDemocrat) IncomeInequality MinimumWage MinimumWageIncrease Two Americas TwoAmericas _1210549 Tue, 21 May 2013 03:35:59 +0000 Building Bridges Radio: Low-Wage Workers Rally To Raise Minimum Wage - 28:01 https://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/8/15/1120570/-Building-Bridges-Radio-Low-Wage-Workers-Rally-To-Raise-Minimum-Wage-28-01 <a href="http://www.buildingbridgesradio.blogspot.com/2012/08/low-wage-workers-rally-to-raise-minimum.html">http://www.buildingbridgesradio.blogspot.com/...</a> Building Bridges: Your Community & Labor Report                     National Edition     Produced by Mimi Rosenberg & Ken Nash     ********** rss@dailykos.com (buildingbridgesradio) carwashworkersnewyorkcity immigrantworkers Labor LowWageWorkers MinimumWageIncrease RetailActionProject Unions wal-martworkers _1120570 Wed, 15 Aug 2012 20:46:19 +0000 Educate Me. Question #1: Why can't the minimum wage increase fly alone? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/2/18/303410/-Educate-Me-Question-1-Why-can-t-the-minimum-wage-increase-fly-alone I figure there are some marvelous heads out there, including sitting members of Congress.  So I hereby launch a time and again series to answer questions that roll around in my head, hoping the wisdom of this crowd can enlighten. I seem to recall vaguely-anyone know the specifics?- that the republicans, when they controlled both chambers, seemed to conveniently lose some of the democratic senate minority wishes of senate bills when "hammering out" the details to dovetail with similar legislation from the republican house in CONFERENCE COMMITTEE (Thanks, guys.. I edited the diary to not get sidetracked on remembering the name of the conference committee).  So... rss@dailykos.com (american fool) Civics MinimumWageIncrease _303410 Mon, 19 Feb 2007 01:45:33 +0000 Turning Up the Heat on Minimum Wage Increase [w/Poll] https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/12/2/276970/-Turning-Up-the-Heat-on-Minimum-Wage-Increase-w-Poll A friend of mine forwarded me an encouraging article just published on the Huffington Post by an academic colleague of his, Annette Bernhardt, Ph.D., on some major recent advances in increasing the minimum wage at the state level, that she and her colleagues at the <a href="http://www.brennancenter.org/subpage.asp?key=40&proj_key=13">Brennan Center for Justice at NYU School of Law</a> have been working on. This past election six states--in the nation's "heartland", no less--passed ballot initiatives calling for increases in the state minimum wage, with up to a whopping 70% voting for the increase across the red-purple-blue political spectrum. And with Democrats, led by progressive Democrat Nancy Pelosi and dominated by their progressive coalition in the house, along with populist Harry Reid in the senate, set to take over congress in just over a month, and making an increase in the federal minimum wage one of their top priorities upon assuming the majority--and Republicans likely loath to risk further fueling growing and well-deserved public perception that they are the party of the rich and privileged by opposing this--things are looking very good for this happening soon at the national level as well. rss@dailykos.com (kovie) BallotInitiatives Congress EconomicPolicy Living Wage LivingWage MinimumWage MinimumWageIncrease Progressiveagenda _276970 Sat, 02 Dec 2006 22:40:00 +0000 Minimum wage hike: Dem tactics in House https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/11/26/274664/-Minimum-wage-hike-Dem-tactics-in-House <a href="http://mydd.com/story/2006/11/22/14182/977">Last Wednesday</a>, I looked at the innovative but rather high-risk tactics that are apparently under consideration within the Dem House leadership for dealing on the floor with the ethics bill in the first days of the 110th Congress. Another key element in Pelosi's 100 Hour program is a hike in the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. On the face of it, this is a rather simpler legislative exercise: a short bill, a couple of sections, raising the rate in one or two increments, according to the leadership's choice. Closed rule, bish, bash, bosh - and punt it over to the Senate side. rss@dailykos.com (skeptic06) HouseStrategyandTactics MinimumWageIncrease _274664 Sun, 26 Nov 2006 19:17:43 +0000 It's Time to Have a National Minimum Wage Worthy of Our Nation https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/6/233714/-It-s-Time-to-Have-a-National-Minimum-Wage-Worthy-of-Our-Nation Congressional Democrats rightly killed--at least for the time being--the Republican bid to take a watered down version of the Congressional Democrats' watered down minimum wage bill and trade it for massive long term tax breaks heavily targeted at the wealthiest Americans. But, in doing so, they have opened themselves up to charges that they are not really for a minimum wage increase. The best way to rebut this canard to come out for a much higher minimum wage bill than the inadequate one now before Congress in a desperate bid to gain Republican support.  Massive state action around the country has given the Congressional Democrats the lever they need to regain control of this issue and a chance to meaningfully improve the lives of millions of Americans. rss@dailykos.com (State Rep Mark Cohen Dem PA) MinimumWageIncrease _233714 Sun, 06 Aug 2006 07:39:01 +0000 More Optimistic Minimum Wage Statements From California Legislative Leaders https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/4/233491/-More-Optimistic-Minimum-Wage-Statements-From-California-Legislative-Leaders Both California House Speaker Fabian Nunez and Senate President Don Perata have made new optimistic statements quoted in today's newspapers about a large possible increase in California's minimum wage.  If the legislature and the governor are to work out a compromise, they must do it soon, as the current legislative session ends August 31, 2006. "I think we are really, really close to an agreement," said Nunez.  See <a href="http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/story/14287404p-15107060c.html">http://www.sacbee.com/...</a> "We haven't finalized the deal yet," said Perata.  "I think we have some negotiating to do.  But that's ( a minimum wage of $8.25) my boundary, and we could get to that boundary." rss@dailykos.com (State Rep Mark Cohen Dem PA) California MinimumWageIncrease _233491 Sat, 05 Aug 2006 03:36:52 +0000 Ummmm... Senator Hutchison??? https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/3/233217/-Ummmm-Senator-Hutchison You're so CUTE when you're farklempt... the way your little nose attempts to crinkle beneath the pancake makeup... the way your eyebrows, (well, the paint where your eyebrows used to be) almost overrides the botox and arches in "genuine" concern for the poor and middle class workers of America who have been denied their "gargantuan" increase in the minimum wage by politcally opportunistic Democrats who've selfishly rejected your and your fellow Republicans' attempt to trade off their extra $2.10/hour over the course of the next three years for the paltry sum of.... oh, hundreds of billions of dollars or so worth of Estate Tax "relief" for their employers... well, hundreds of billions of dollars of Estate Tax "relief" for their employers' employers employers... all because they greedily want to avoid putting an even deeper ding in the tax base to maybe have the money to pay the ginormous tab you and your fellow Republicans have run up over the course of the last half decade or so... you know, to maybe try to pay it off over the course of the next century or so... rss@dailykos.com (ThatSinger) EstateTax KayBaileyHutchison MinimumWageIncrease _233217 Fri, 04 Aug 2006 06:27:01 +0000 Bare Minimum https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/8/2/232870/-Bare-Minimum With a new effort by "moderate" Republicans to push through a modest hike in the minimum wage in the vain attempt to separate themselves from their far-Right fellow travelers, the economic/commentariat industrial complex status quo machine that maintains our inequitable socioeconomic system is once again kicking into gear. Raising the minimum wage to a level that working people in our country can actually live on is presented as the greatest threat to the American way of life since child labor laws. I say let's challenge the capitali sts to put their comfortable mouths where the real lack of money is.     rss@dailykos.com (Herzen68) MinimumWageIncrease _232870 Thu, 03 Aug 2006 03:09:15 +0000 Minimum Wage Increase To $7.25 Is A First Down, Not A Touchdown https://www.dailykos.com/story/2006/7/28/231469/-Minimum-Wage-Increase-To-7-25-Is-A-First-Down-Not-A-Touchdown Republicans in Congress are now on the verge of agreeing to Democratic demands that they increase the minimum wage to $7.25.  The immediate debate is about what gifts to business interests, if any, should be added to the minimum wage package. But this ongoing debate is not the most important one we should be having. The most important debate we should be having is how we get minimum wage workers out of poverty. $7.25 an hour is still a poverty wage.  That statement is not just rhetoric.  At 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, $7.25 an hour amounts to $15,080.  The current poverty level for a family of three is $16,600. rss@dailykos.com (State Rep Mark Cohen Dem PA) MinimumWageIncrease _231469 Fri, 28 Jul 2006 22:07:11 +0000