It’s why we voted for them and so many worked to create a Democratic House.
The House of Representatives passed the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 by a wide margin on Wednesday afternoon.
The bill would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 per hour to $7.25 per hour in three increments over two years and two months.
The Act, introduced by congressman George Miller (D.-Calif.), passed by a vote of 315 to 116 after a day of spirited debate. The last time the minimum wage was raised was 1997.
Miller, on the House floor, called it a historic vote that had waited 10 years. He said it was simply “an up-or-down vote saying whether the poorest people working in the country deserve a raise.”
Crazy Democrats and their ideas of economic fairness.
So when an untold number of low income earners working for small companies lose their jobs over the next 2 years, who can we blame?
Why don’t you also ask about the fairies and sprites, because they’re as real as that scenario is likely to happen.
Omigaw! This is liable to just destroy Taco Bell!!
Haw.
But some senators want to put tax breaks in there for businesses. Jeepers, they have gotten so many tax breaks in 5 years. They used it to help their workers? I don’t know. If they really cannot afford their workers and not afford a bigger home, I guess they will make the choices.
One of those senators, Max Baucus, has a stance about it is because MT passed the MW ballot initiative, and many said they could not stay in business. Baloney. They can. It’s a matter how well you run your business and the quality of your product or service, not just cheap labor.
Why don’t you also ask about the fairies and sprites, because they’re as real as that scenario is likely to happen.
It will happen. The same Mom and Pop stores you weep for when BIG MEAN WALMART comes around are the same ones who will get hurt by this increase. And the result will be people losing their jobs.
There is nothing more obvious than knowing that those who brag about such things have NEVER, EVER had any running a small business.
There is nothing more obvious than knowing that those who brag about such things have NEVER, EVER had any running a small business.
That should read:
There is nothing more obvious than knowing that those who brag about such things have NEVER, EVER had any experience running a small business.
How can this be a bad thing? George Will just told me that barely anyone makes minimum wage in America. I know he would never stretch the turth, so if so few are making it, how can Small Business be hurt?
truth, not turth. Even did a preview, and still typo’ed. Maybe another bottle of beer will settle me down…
Oddly enough, whether for PR reasons or whatever, Walmart supports increasing the minimum wage.
Oddly enough, whether for PR reasons or whatever, Walmart supports increasing the minimum wage.
They support increases because it is easy for them to absorb the cost. Why? Because there is no cost for them to absorb as they’re already paying their employees more than that proposed increase.
Jay, I run a small business. I have run many of them. I have never paid a person minimum wage in my life and never would. If you try to “cheap” your way into the market, you end up with the crappiest products and the lousiest service, neither of which I would choose. Most successful business are run this way.
Also, if I’m not mistaken, are some business that employ below a certain number of people exempt from the minimum wage? For that matter, has the new law changed that?
Well, then, it looks like another lame right-wing talking point has been smacked down. NEXT!!
Boy, some righties just can’t put the kool-aid down long enough to keep quiet for even the tiniest thing the Dems get right. (And tiny things is about all they’ve gotten right so far.) I think there will be plenty of room in Dubya’s Iraq “surge” for such unflagging zeal.
Whaddya say, Jay?
Loss of minimum wage jobs and a rise in inflation.
So much for the Democrat “ideas of economic fairness”.
The mid to late 1970’s happened once, there is no need to have them happen again. Except for short-term Dem political wins, of course.
Compare the then and the current economic indicators and weep.
Shorter Phil:
Making the rich richer: Good for everyone!
Making the poor richer: Bad for everyone! Jesus was an asshole!
Also: “Democrat ideas” doesn’t make sense. Did you mean DemocratIC ideas?
Z, it all depends on what kind of business you run. And it doesn’t have to be minimum wage. I am sure more places are paying above minimum wage, but even a hit of 75 cents an hour can have an adverse affect on some small businesses.
And it doesn’t necessarily have to be a person getting fired. But it could prevent some places from hiring more people and it could cut back on hours people can work.
To think that an arbitrary hike in the federal minimum wage has no effect on small business is just ignorant, especially when you factor in regional issues, tax issues, etc. I am not opposed to min wage increases, but I do think it is something that should be left to the states because of all the factors involved.
I am not opposed to min wage increases,
well, then shut up about it already.
The minimum wage hasn’t gone up for ten. years. Congress has gotten what, 5 pay increases in that time? If most businesses start workers above the minimum wage, what’s the problem? Even if every business in America started new workers above the minimum wage, it wouldn’t effect any of them. The federal minimum wage is just that; the minimum amount you can pay someone. That not only seems fair, it seems necessary in a free market society. Whether union wages are tied to the MW is irrelevent. That would have to be something that would be decided by the unions and the businesses that employ them.
My point is; It’s about fucking time.
Jay, please provide me evidence of such changes in employer behavior. There have been many increases in minimum wage over time. Do you have evidence of corresponding RIFs?
My experience is that raising minimum wage increases disposable income. Since about 2/3 of economic activity is driven by consumer spending, the effect is more positive than negative. I am sure that can’t go on forever, but it seems we can increase minimum wage at least until people earning at the low end can afford to stop eating out of garbage cans or take 3 other jobs.
Just lovely. Paying democrats for votes. Every union worker will get a raise and the Democrat party coffers will get a big boost as a result. Vote for us…we’ll pay you!
well, then shut up about it already.
No, I won’t shut up about it when the conversation is in the context of the federal minimum wage.
Congress has gotten what, 5 pay increases in that time?
Let me tell you something. If you got a minimum wage job TEN YEARS ago and are STILL making minimum wage then you’re a loser with a big fat ‘L’ and don’t deserve a raise.
Even if every business in America started new workers above the minimum wage, it wouldn’t effect any of them.
Nonsense. If minimum wage laws have no effect on business, then why stop at $7.25 an hour? Why not make the min wage $15.00 an hour?
You’re on to us, William. Making the middle class larger is just a scheme to get votes.
Let me tell you something. If you got a minimum wage job TEN YEARS ago and are STILL making minimum wage then you’re a loser with a big fat ‘L’ and don’t deserve a raise.
Well, I admit I have to agree with you on that score.
My point was if most employers start new workers above the min wage, what net effect would raising it have on them? None. Raising it to $15, well, that’s just silly.
I agree with you that it is mostly a state issue and should be handled as such, but the federal min wge is set so that it is the minimum you can pay someone (legally). Kind of like MAP pricing. It’s the Minimum Advertised Price, set by the manufacturer. You might see an ipod selling for less at some stores, but you won’t see it less than MAP.
That is how I see the federal Min wage.
Every union worker will get a raise and
.. go out and spend it? And that’s bad because why?
I say let’s make it $25.00 an hour.
Who’s with me?
“Making the middle class larger is just a scheme to get votes.”
They didn’t make the middle class larger. They just made their money worth less.
What color is the sky in your world?
Got actual evidence of that claim, William? Because I think it’s just a “fact” you find convenient to believe. Further, the Democrats’ New Deal helped create the largest middle class in history. Turning your back on it now is simple ignorance on your part.
Further, the Democrats’ New Deal helped create the largest middle class in history.
Good grief, what ass backwards history books are you reading??
Jay, I run a small business. I have run many of them. I have never paid a person minimum wage in my life and never would. If you try to “cheap” your way into the market, you end up with the crappiest products and the lousiest service, neither of which I would choose. Most successful business are run this way.
See: EBStop.
Oh, and Jay, if this does blow up in or faces, I will treat that with the grace and dignity you expressed when Iraq blew up in your faces.
*snicker*
“Got actual evidence of that claim, William?”
You obvoisly aren’t in business. I am in the apparel business. I manufacture better men’s apparel. I make as many items in the US as possible. However, if either the fabric (mostly union labor in the Carolinas & Canada) or sewing labor (increasingly unionized) here is too expensive, I move the item to China, Taiwan, or Korea.
A $1.00 move up in manufacturing price translates to a $4.00 increase at retail. Can I afford to be $4.00 more than my competitors who make garments overseas? NO!
Ignorance…bah! Get a job.
“House Republicans yesterday declared “something fishy” about the major tuna company in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s San Francisco district being exempted from the minimum-wage increase that Democrats approved this week.
“I am shocked,” said Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and his party’s chief deputy whip, noting that Mrs. Pelosi campaigned heavily on promises of honest government. “Now we find out that she is exempting hometown companies from minimum wage. This is exactly the hypocrisy and double talk that we have come to expect from the Democrats.”
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island’s work force. StarKist’s parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.”
…
What was that you said Oliver, “Same crap, different smell”?
It is the same old crap. The senate Dems killed the earmark reform bill passed by the house Dems yesterday. New faces, same crooks & liars.
Hey Doc! Is that crickets I hear?
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
Close, Mike, but you’re stretching on a couple of points.
Before this minimum wage law, there were two territories where federal labor laws (not just minimum wage) didn’t apply: NMI and American Samoa.
This new law brings NMI under federal labor law. It does not “exempt” American Samoa. It does not include American Samoa. It doesn’t mention American Samoa at all.
Now the pertinent question is, “Why is labor law protection being extended to workers in NMI?”
Any clues, Mike?
“Why is labor law protection being extended to workers in NMI?”
Because they have an exepmtion from SOME US labor laws. It will be intersting to see what happens to their garment manufacturing sector once the new minimum wage laws take effect. Many citizens of NMI may be out of work. Will they qualify for US unemployment benefits?
That still begs the question, why NMI and not Samoa?
Samoas minimum wage is $3.66/hr (2004) and NMI is $3.05/hr. Shouldn’t they all be entitled to the US minimum if we are going to go down this road?
William: the short answer is yes, they should.
That still begs the question, why NMI and not Samoa?
William, the question I posed (and you dodged) was “Why is labor law protection being extended to NMI?”
Try this. Google “Marianas Islands” and “forced abortion”.
ALLEGED coerced abortions.
Most of the articles linked at Google rehash the same Ms. article that quotes a single former garment worker who said “I’ve driven four Chinese women to get abortions here”. You could find a taxi driver in New York who could say the same thing.
I still don’t understand why Democrats think Samoan people are 2nd class citizens. Maybe they just hate brown people.