For all the good it did

to protest to my senators about the minimum wage bill (they were 2 of the 28 that wanted to repeal it altogether) THIS is the answer I got today from DeMint:

Dear Ms. {China_cat} ,

Thank you for contacting me to express your support for H.R . 2, the Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007. I appreciate hearing from you.

As you may know, Representative George Miller of California introduced H.R. 2 on January 5, 2007. This bill would raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour. H.R. 2 was passed by the House of Representatives on January 10, 2007 and the Senate on February 1, 2007 by a vote of 94-3. The differences between the House and Senate versions must be reconciled in a joint conference committee and the legislation must return for another vote before final passage.

The current minimum wage gives unskilled workers an opportunity to enter the job market and build skills for future employment. Two-thirds of those who receive the minimum wage earn a pay raise by the next year. You may also be interested to know the majority of those receiving the federal minimum wage are not the sole earners in their family and in fact are between 16 and 25 years of age. For these reasons, I do not support mandating a federal minimum wage increase.

{My comment...bullshit}

While I was pleased that H.R. 2 as passed by the Senate contained some tax cuts, it also contained some troubling tax increases. I am also concerned by the fact that the minimum wage increase in H.R. 2 would raise the minimum wage in lower cost of living states like South Carolina while leaving it untouched in higher cost of living states like Massachusetts that already maintain a higher minimum wage. For these reasons, I voted against H.R. 2.

{My comment...lower cost of living state? Average rent here is $700/mo. While this may be lower than MA average, you still can't pay it on $5.15/hr and not when you need first, last and at least one month security deposit. He also doesn't take into account that we pay sales tax of 6.5% on EVERYTHING we buy...groceries, essential clothing, medicines...and a yearly property tax on any vehicle we might own on top of the tag renewal fee.}

Thank you again for sharing your views with me. Please feel free to contact me about any issue important to you or your family. It is an honor to serve you and the people of South Carolina .



Sincerely,

Jim DeMint
United States Senator

I think they see my name and drop it into the circular file.

"sadly, I don't believe that you will ever even see this. I make less than $250,000/yr. and your person in charge of opening your mail will never let it get any further".

Awesome :toast:

I'll have to try that next time I write a "Dear Liddy" Letter.

2008, Liddy... it's not that far away...Time for change!