Democrats to use minimum wage as election weapon - Rueters

our wedge issue of 2006...

http://today.reuters.com/investing/financeArticle.aspx?type=bondsNews&storyID=2006-05-23T144100Z_01_N23405474_RTRIDST_0_POLITICS-WAGES.XML

TUCSON, Ariz., May 23 (Reuters) - Democrats in Arizona and across the nation believe they have a secret weapon in November mid-term elections: putting minimum wage increases on state ballots to boost turnout among supporters.

In doing so, Democrats are taking a page from their opponents' play book. Republicans have used ballot propositions for years as a way to galvanize their political base, most notably in 2004 with referendums to ban same sex marriage.

"The idea is to get more of our voters to the polls. The other side has done this so well for so long - on terms limits, property tax reductions and gay marriage," said Oliver Griswold of the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center, a Washington group helping Democrats use state referendums as a strategic weapon in elections...

..."The minimum wage is going to be a big issue for us because it's part of what we want voters to know about our opponent -- that he's voted in Congress time and again against raising it," said Pederson spokesman Kevin Griffis. "It's going to be a galvanizing force in the election. It plays into the contrast between the two candidates."

I've been screaming my fool head off on this board and others about how wages are the key wedge issue this time. 87% of people in a recent poll agreed that the minimum has to rise--a lot--both to compensate for the inflation we've been lied to about and to make illegal immigrants look a whole lot less attractive as employees.

Since the pubbies have traditionally fought all wage increases at all times, there is no way they can answer it except by the tired old lie about disappearing jobs, something that has never happened with a wage hike.

Economic justice for all Americans is the winning issue. Party conservatives are the problem. Let's hope the larger party tells them NO for once and runs on working class economics.

Re >>Since the pubbies have traditionally fought all wage increases at all times, there is no way they can answer it except by the tired old lie about disappearing jobs, something that has never happened with a wage hike.<<

A lot of jobs have already disappeared.

:-)

they need to take these majority stands, like this, national healthcare, getting out of iraq etc...it can be done.

Just in time for the election and ESPECIALLY if the Dems are planning to use it as an issue in the election. Just a prediction though.

and I hope all Democratic candidates follow through on it.

:)

pay raises Congress has given themselves since the last minimum wage hike.