http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-wage22jun22,1,4647642.story?track=crosspromo&coll=la-headlines-nation&ctrack=1&cset=trueSenate Republicans Block Boost in Minimum Wage
With an eye on midterm elections, Democrats will again try to hike the rate in Congress and in state ballot measures.
By Molly Hennessy-Fiske, Times Staff Writer
June 22, 2006
WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans on Wednesday killed an effort to raise the minimum wage, but Democrats who backed the measure said they would try again, both in Congress and through ballot measures in several states.
The federal minimum wage has been $5.15 an hour since 1997. On a procedural measure Wednesday, senators voted 52 to 46 in favor of raising the wage to $7.25 in three steps, but 60 votes were needed to move the legislation forward.
"Part of American values are economic fairness," Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) said Wednesday on the Senate floor, pointing to a map of states with ballot initiatives. "The demand for fairness is sweeping the country like a brush fire."
In Senate debate Wednesday, Kennedy noted that Congress had raised its own pay over the last nine years by $31,600.
So, why is it necessary to raise Congressional pay scales, but not minimum wage? I want that question posed to EVERY SINGLE a**hole, Republican and Democrat alike who did not vote for an increase. I'm serious. On television, on radio, on their own websites, in debates, etc.
I believe most Americans today, whether they are hourly or salaried are underpaid when one takes into account the general inflationary pressures of housing, utilities, healthcare, gasoline. These necessities of life have risen while income has stayed stagnant. Except, of course for the bloated takings of CEOs, BODs, members of Congress, lobbyists, pundits, and media stenographers who have seen their personal incomes rise nicely.
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