Minimum wage battle takes a new turn

The Republicans have successfully stalled a bill that would have implemented the first minimum wage increase in ten years.  Now the Democrats have a response of their own.  Until the minimum wage bill is passed, Pelosi's House Democrats will block a cost-of-living (pay) increase for lawmakers.  Wa Post:

Lawmakers' pay will be frozen at $165,200 for this year in the dispute..

The Republicans are crying foul -- claiming that if Democrats allowed an amendment that cuts taxes for businesses, then they would let the minimum wage bill slide on through.

But Democrats say CEO pay has gone up exponentially in the last decade while bottom salaries have stayed put, even without factoring in inflation.  Minimum wage should be dealt with first.

We will have to watch how this plays out.  It is likely, according to some reports, that the Senate will pass a version of the minimum wage bill with tax cuts for businesses.  However, that is different than the House version.  So the House will have to decide whether to consider the Senate's bill, or ask the Senate to try one more time to pass their version that does not include tax cuts for businesses.

In related news, the CEO of Costco has added his name to the long list of CEO's that want Congress to raise the minimum wage.  They favor the proposal because raising wages for the lowest-paid workers usually reduces employee turnover.

Comments

[George]

Why doesn't Mr CEO just give his employees a raise by himself then? Or is COSTCO bound by law to fuck their workers as much as legally possible?

[ted K]

You are right there George.
Even MacDonalds will pay their employees more than the minimum wage in order to get more valued employees.

Costco is just using it as a cop out.
I think that Cosco pays more than the minimum wage anyway to almost all employees.

This would stick it to "Evil Wal-Mart" and anyone else not paying more than minimum and thus help Costco compete.

That is my guess anyway.

[Tony]

How about a field trip consisting of anyone that opposes raising the minimum wage. Take them to a few dozen homes where the household is run on a minimum income. Maybe seeing cupboards full of macaroni and cheese, kool-aid , bologna and day old "whatevers on the rack that day" may make them think about it.

[ted K]

I oppose raising minimum wage and don't need to take a field trip Tony.

I also oppose people deciding to earn minimum wage, stay at that rate and then decide to raise a family on it.

The question should be put to those parents as to why they decided to have a family when only earning min wage.

Min wage is where one starts their working career, usually in high school and if later, fine, but then you work your way up out of it and here is a thought. Don't have kids if you are only making minimum wage and then CRY about not having enough money in your crappy job, that you chose to stay in.

I started at min wage when I was 16, hey guess what? I didn't decide to have children until I was more financially sound ready to support a family

Wow, what a concept.

[Tony]

well Ted, how about the people that followed the "Ted's perfect way of life" had well paying jobs and then got laid off, and are having a hard time finding another job in the same capacity, as far as the people that didn't go down the perfect path, what would you recommend for those?