Perhaps by the end of the debate people will understand why a federal minimum wage increase is a bad idea.An effort to increase the minimum wage in all states, even those that already have wage floors higher than the federal base, failed Thursday after Democrats labeled it a "poison pill."
Democrats said the Republican proposal was designed to kill underlying minimum wage legislation.
An amendment offered by Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was an effort to show how raising the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 over 26 months would have no effect in eight states because they already have wage floors of $7.25 or higher. Another two states have scheduled minimum wage increases that also would place them above the proposed federal floor.
Eighteen other states have higher minimum wages than the current federal floor, but not as high as the $7.25 in the proposed legislation.
"This is a mandate on low-cost-of-living states, but not on high-cost-of-living states," DeMint said.
VIDEO: DeMint explains his amendement
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. All the republicans have done, is shoot themselves in the foot........again!
Ed at 7:52PM on Jan 26th 2007
2. Goverment should glad that the little people are not asking for living wage's
Dean Hudgins at 6:50PM on Feb 16th 2007
3. Why limit the minimum wage to $7.25 per hour? The government doesn't have to pay it, business employers do. We all know businesses and corporations are all rich and can easily afford it. They're also evil and should be punished! Why not $10.00 per hour? Sounds good, how about $20.00? How can someone who dropped out of high school, has no skills and has a wife and six kids support a family of eight on $20.00 per hour? We better make it $30.00.
Our family of eight has been saved by the government! Except that they now have to pay $25.00 for a loaf of bread, $35.00 for a box of Cherrios for the kids, and $300.00 for a pair of jeans for the boys and $400.00 for a school dress for the girls. Dinner out at a McDonnald's will cost the family about $375.00!
Liberals don't care about the consequences of their actions.
Robert Baker at 1:46AM on Feb 24th 2007
4. Raising the minimum wage to over $7.25 an hour will only cause those corporations in states accustomed to paying less than $5 and $6 dollars an hour to REDUCE THE EMPLOYEE'S HOURS!! The employee suffers either way. Those companies who currently offer "minimum wage" albeit "unlivable" wages, offer for the most part only part time hours anyway. Seems to me smoke is blown at the wrong issues. Seems to me we need to drop the term "minimum wage" and start penalizing employers who do not offer a "livable" wage to their employees. How would they be penalized? Well, start by changing the word "penalty" to "incentive" and fine them exactly the difference between any wage UNDER the livable wage, the company has to put the amount of the fine into a trust for the employees! Yeah!
Jean Hawkins at 3:06PM on Feb 24th 2007
5. Poor Jean and Dean...they just don't get it! They want to blame and penalize business for not paying employees "living" wages! Why not eliminate the minimum wage altogether and let free market forces determine what wages should be? Business that pay more would attract the better qualified employees. And there's a novel thought..."Qualified Employees"!
In this great country, with all the freedom and opportnities available, anyone who works hard and stays away from drugs and crime can be successful. Education, even college, is free. All you have to do is work and apply yourself. If you drop out of high school, start fooling around with illegal drugs, produce children out of wedlock that you can't support and get into criminal activity you're not going to be successful and have any qualifications to offer a prospective employer. So you want to "penalize" employers? Give me a break!
Stop looking to liberal democrats like Ted Kennedy and Hillary Clinton to save you....work hard for yourself!!
Robert Baker at 8:56PM on Feb 25th 2007
6. Hmmmmm, I would jump off a tall bridge before looking to any liberal democrat for anything. It would be a complete waste of time. But one thing for sure, I know first hand about how big corporations manipulate the bottom line, frequently at the expense of the employee, even the educated ones in responsible positions. By the way, the word "penalize" was converted to "incentive". Also, being sucessful does not necessarily mean high education and big fat paychecks.
Jean at 9:53PM on Feb 25th 2007
7. These comments may just blow in the wind since few will read them. However, when I entered the workforce 40 years ago, I made a whopping 90 bucks a week. But, I lived well and had enough for food, rent, car, and anything I wanted within reason. I believe it was possible because everything was priced reasonably. Those were the days when businesses believed in making a reasonable profit, and more was inexcusably immoral. Today, the average income is not enough, nor are most of the average jobs still available. Prices of every single thing in life have risen faster than wages. Factor in indexed income tax plus more and more local and user taxes and fees and you eventually get to the end of the road. The illegal immigrant is here for the sole purpose of driving standards down in the US while making ever increasing profits for the businesses and increasing and enlarging the 'business' of government.
Gene Lange at 1:55AM on Feb 28th 2007
8. Minimum wage of $7.25....Now there's a real joke. Think about this....$7.25 p/h means $300.00 p/w. Take out the standard 22% and you have $234.00. Average poverty rent in America is $400.00 p/m. Average utility bill is $250.00 p/m. Average grocery bill in poverty America is $80.00 p/w. Average phone bill w/o long distance is $30.00 p/m. Average clothing bill in poverty America is $33.00 p/m. Average gas for the ride to work is $10.00 p/w. Average bus ride to work is $14.00 p/w. Now, that is for one (1) person. Suppose that person is married, you can add half of that total again. Now this is NOT fuzzy math. The real math here makes me wonder why minimum wage shouldn't be $15.00 p/h....that's only $480.00 p/w bring home pay. The ONLY thing standing in the way of $15.00 p/h is lobbyists and greed. I had a boss one time (on a dead end job) that told me he couldn't give me a raise that year because he just bought season tickets for our three (3) local teams, and he hired a new boat washer that has to come once a week to wash his 32 foot boat. I said , good luck in the future, and walked out. He hired two replacements at $3.00 p/h less, from south of the border. This is why Americans cannot get a living wage!
Jim at 7:01AM on Mar 6th 2007
9. I agree with Jim. As long as there are people willing to work for wages that are far below "Livable", then that is what these businesses will pay them. Immigrants are not only willing to work for practically free, they also are willing to live packed into houses and apartments like a can of sardines.
Karen Duca-Burk at 4:42PM on Mar 7th 2007
10. I also agree with Jim and Karen. Where is the incentive for people in this country that are working, being responsible, going to college and attempting to make a honest living. I do not excuse criminal behavior however I do believe that it is criminal for "honest people" that are attempting to achieve success to not be able to 'Live" without a severe struggle.
clevon Woods at 12:58PM on Apr 4th 2007