Joe Manchin Wants Meeting About $15 Minimum Wage, Campaigners Say

[turbinetree]

BY JAMES WALKER ON 2/16/21 AT 4:24 AM EST

Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) has sought a meeting with activists who planned to protest outside the Democratic lawmaker's office over his opposition to a federal $15 minimum wage, according to campaigners.

The Poor People's Campaign said in a statement on Monday that Manchin asked for a meeting with the group, which had planned to hold an in-person protest outside his office in Charleston, West Virginia on the same day.

However, poor weather caused the demonstration to be canceled. "The campaign has postponed its plans for an in-person event outside Sen. Manchin's office in Charleston because of an ice storm," the Poor People's Campaign said.

https://www.newsweek.com/joe-manchin-wants-meeting-15-minimum-wage-campaigners-1569488

And then there is this:

"I'm speaking to you, Senator Manchin," Jean Evansmore of the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign said at an online event Monday. "You know that in West Virginia the minimum wage needs to be $23 in order for people to live, not wonder where their next meal is coming from."

"Enough's enough," added Pam Garrison, also with the West Virginia Poor People's Campaign. "When will you give us a living wage?"

https://www.rawstory.com/joe-manchin/

[Wounded Bear]

1. Grass roots support, that's what we need...

especially in red zones. We need to get a course correction on some of Manchin's DINO tendencies.

[Celerity]

2. IF a minimum wage hike isn't able to be passed through reconciliation, then I think it's dead anyway

Even a reduced one. The Rethugs will filibuster them all UNLESS we accept a poison pill like Cotton is tying to add on (small hike is oki BUT his amendment makes any hiring of any undocumented a far more serious crime than it is now, and also goes after the undocumented workers HARD). I heard on MSNBC a couble days ago a Rethug saying the goal was to stuff the private prisons full of undocumented workers, milk it for all the profits (and slave labour) possible for years, then use the military (if necessary) to deport them the nanosecond their prison terms are up.

[dsc]

3. I actually do think employing people who aren't documented

and thus quite likely not paying the taxes employers should be paying, should be a serious crime which leads to jail time. Put a few CEO's in jail and see the problem of exploiting these people stop on a dime. Arresting the workers on the other hand is a non starter for me.

[Celerity]

4. The Rethug emphasis deffo sounded like it was on draconian worker punishment nt

[dsc]

16. well I am off that train

but again, put a CEO or two in jail, and I am all for that.

[dawg day]

6. Instead of prosecuting the CEOs making money of the undocumented-

They send ICE to prosecute and deport the workers.

I hope that's going to change.

[Bucky]

9. Only you've got it backwards

Avoiding paying taxes is far more serious a crime. Employers will pay tax withholdings to the government on people using fake Social Security numbers or overstaying on student or temporary work visas.

Overwhelmingly, the vast majority of undocumented workers in the US are paying taxes, both income taxes and payroll set aside like Medicare and Social Security. Their employers are also paying their share of payroll taxes and unemployment insurance per employee.

The thing is. Undocumented workers will never collect Social Security, Medicare, or unemployment insurance. they pay into those systems and keep them solvent, but never take out of them. So it's a net plus for US workers.

[rgbecker]

12. Please explain how Undocumented workers are paying into SS and Medicare if they don't have a Number.

Are they some one else's number? Does the Employer provide a number that feeds into their own account?

I've heard the claim you are making from others, but no one has offered info on how this works exactly.

Thanks.

[Bucky]

15. Yes, there are some that use fake Social Security numbers

I mean, look at a Social Security card. It's not that hard to forge.

It happened to me. Many years ago when I went down to get a copy of my Social Security card, they start asking me about why I wasn't in Wyoming. Apparently I'd been working as a cowboy there under the name Raul, but using Bucky's SSN. And they took all that money out of my account ☹️

But the majority of undocumented workers are people here on work visas are student visas who either overstay their visa period or work without full authorization. They pay into the system and never withdraw from it.

[MichMan]

11. How many employers are paying undocumented workers under the table?

Cheating the government out of unemployment taxes, workers comp taxes and a myriad of others. Then they have a competitive advantage over those employers who are following the rules by paying standard wages, benefits & taxes.

Employers and employees who cheat the system, or who engage in identify theft with fake documents need to be dealt with harshly.

[dawg day]

5. I'm glad there are some workers and activists there

Manchin certainly has heard (and listened to) plenty of businesses.

[lagomorph777]

7. 60% in WV live below poverty. Does Manchin want their votes?

[BGBD]

10. Yeah

Gotta remember who those folks voted for Bush, McCain, and Romney before they vote twice for Trump.

If you are living in poverty in WV you blame democrats and believe you would be rich if only there were less regulation and taxes.

[rgbecker]

13. Maybe 16%???

278,734
An estimated 278,734 West Virginians lived in poverty in 2019, for a total poverty rate of 16.0 percent. While poverty declined by 1.8 percentage points from 2018, West Virginia's poverty rate is still 3.7 percentage points higher than the national average, making it the 6th highest rate among the 50 states.Sep 17, 2020

[link:https://wvpolicy.org/data-released-today-shows-west-virginia-had-6th-highest-poverty-rate-in-the-country-even-before-covid-hardship-more-relief-needed/|

[lagomorph777]

14. Oops! Maybe I mis-heard!

[Fiendish Thingy]

8. Keep it up! Feet to the fire! Nt