GOP Blocks Minimum Wage Increase
Today, despite supporting substantial increases to their own pay, Senate Republicans voted against a pay increase for millions of hard-working Americans by blocking a minimum wage increase strongly supported by House and Senate Democrats. As part of their "100-hours" agenda, Democrats in the House passed a bill that would increase the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour.
Democratic National Committee Chairman Howard Dean issued the following statement:
"It's appalling that Senate Republicans have callously blocked Democrats' efforts to increase the minimum wage for millions of Americans who continue to struggle to make ends meet. Rather than vote themselves another pay raise, Republicans in Congress should join Democrats in giving hard-working Americans the pay raise they deserve and have been denied for 10 years."
89 Percent Support Minimum Wage Hike. "Large majorities of Americans say they support the Democrats' legislative agenda" including raising the minimum wage. An increase in the minimum wage is supported by 89 percent of the American public according to a recent post-election poll done by Newsweek. [Newsweek, 11/11/06]
The Minimum Wage Has Not Been Increased In Nearly A Decade. The minimum wage has not increased in more than nine years - the longest period in the history of the law. During that time, Members of Congress have received a $31,600 pay raise. The real value of the minimum wage has plummeted to its lowest level in 51 years. [Economic Policy Institute, 6/06]
Raising The Minimum Wage Helps America's Working Families. Raising the minimum wage would provide an additional $4,400/year for a family of three, equaling 15 months of groceries, or over two years of health care - helping them to keep up with rising costs. [Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, August 2006; Consumer Expenditures Survey, 2003-2004]
Minimum Wage Increase Has Widespread Bipartisan Support. The minimum wage increase has the support of a bipartisan majority in both the House and the Senate, with 64 House Republicans having voted for a $7.25 per hour minimum wage under a vocational education bill last July and a majority of Senators, including eight Republicans, having voted for the minimum wage increase last June. [Vote #366, motion to instruct on S.250, 7/12/06; Vote #179, amendment to S.2766, 6/21/06]
