Obama pushes $9 minimum wage bill in visit to red state Texas

[ProSense]

Obama pushes $9 minimum wage bill in visit to red state Texas

By Amie Parnes

President Obama on Thursday declared that the nation is “poised for progress” but called on Congress to help strengthen the middle class by promoting economic polices he proposed in his State of the Union address in February.

In a 20-minute speech at a technology school outside of Austin, Texas, Obama — who has been focused on the gun control and immigration debates in recent days — promoted his idea of raising the minimum wage to $9 an hour, as well as increasing spending on education, worker training programs and manufacturing-innovation centers.

<...>

“I’ve sent Congress proposals on a whole range of ideas … but some of them have been blocked in Congress, for frankly political reasons, but I’m going to keep on trying. I’m an optimistic guy,” Obama said.

“So I’m just going to keep on talking to members of Congress because I believe that America does best when we work together. Every once in a while, I’m going to need your help to lean on elected representatives and say, ‘Hey, Let’s do something.'"

- more -

http://thehill.com/homenews/administration/298873-obama-pushes-9-minimum-wage-bill-in-texas-visit

E.J. Dionne and Robert Borosage agree: push the President's best initiatives.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022807

[Teamster Jeff]

1. He undercut Sen. Harkin and Rep. Millers proposal by $1.10 per hour

Smooth move

http://georgemiller.house.gov/press-release/sen-harkin-and-rep-miller-statement-president-obama%E2%80%99s-minimum-wage-proposal

[ProSense]

2. No, this is the

"He undercut Sen. Harkin and Rep. Millers proposal by $1.10 per hour

Smooth move "

...this is the proposal the President pushed in his State of the Union. From your link:

Washington, D.C. – Today, Sen. Tom Harkin, Chairman of the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee, and Rep. George Miller (D-CA), Senior Democrat and former chairman of the House Education and the Workforce Committee, issued the following statement in response to President Obama’s call for an increase to the federal minimum wage in his State of the Union address. Harkin and Miller have been working together on legislation to increase the minimum wage and provide for automatic future increases based on changes in the cost of living.

“In his State of the Union address, the President made it clear that raising the minimum wage is a necessary step in the effort to grow our economy and strengthen middle class. We could not agree more. It is more apparent than ever that working families struggling to make ends meet on today’s minimum wage, just $7.25 per hour, need and deserve a raise. By acting now to raise the minimum wage we will lift families out of poverty while simultaneously giving a significant boost to our economy. An increase in the minimum wage is long overdue.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with members of Congress pushing for more.

[Teamster Jeff]

4. I heard Tom Harkin on Ed Schultz's radio show

right after the State of the Union address and he was miffed that Obama proposed a $9.00 when he was pushing for $10.10.

[ProSense]

5. Really?

"I heard Tom Harkin on Ed Schultz's radio show right after the State of the Union address and he was miffed that Obama proposed a $9.00 when he was pushing for $10.10."

I was just about to re-post this:

Harkin, Miller Eager to Push an Even Bigger Raise
By David Harrison
Roll Call Staff

Few members of Congress were more pleased to hear President Barack Obama call for an increase in the minimum wage than Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, and Rep. George Miller, D-Calif. The two have been working on increasing the minimum wage for years, routinely introducing legislation that would raise it over several years and peg it to inflation.

<...>

“While we believe the president’s proposal is lower than what is needed, there is no question that last night he threw the door open for a robust discussion on the importance of raising the minimum wage,” the two said in a joint statement released the day after the State of the Union address.

Last year, Harkin and Miller introduced bills that would have incrementally raised the minimum wage to $9.80 an hour. This year, they’re readying legislation that would boost it to $10.10 over the next couple of years, higher than Obama’s proposal of $9 an hour. A Harkin staffer said the bill should be introduced within a few weeks...Even at $10.10 an hour, “we still won’t have fully recovered the value it had 40 years ago,” she said. At its peak in 1968, the minimum wage was at $10.56 in today’s dollars, Kern said.

The lawmakers are also proposing to raise the minimum wage for tipped workers, which has been set at $2.13 an hour since 1991. The Labor Department defines a tipped worker as anyone making at least $30 a month in tips. But employers must make up the difference if the worker’s tips and salary do not add up to $7.25 an hour.

- more -

http://www.rollcall.com/news/harkin_miller_eager_to_push_an_even_bigger_raise-222723-1.html

Orignially posted here: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022439826

[ProSense]

6. And here is Harkin's statement

http://www.harkin.senate.gov/press/release.cfm?i=339662

Also, the President's proposal ties the minimum wage to inflation.

Raise That Wage

By PAUL KRUGMAN

President Obama laid out a number of good ideas in his State of the Union address. Unfortunately, almost all of them would require spending money — and given Republican control of the House of Representatives, it’s hard to imagine that happening.

One major proposal, however, wouldn’t involve budget outlays: the president’s call for a rise in the minimum wage from $7.25 an hour to $9, with subsequent increases in line with inflation. The question we need to ask is: Would this be good policy? And the answer, perhaps surprisingly, is a clear yes....the current level of the minimum wage is very low by any reasonable standard. For about four decades, increases in the minimum wage have consistently fallen behind inflation, so that in real terms the minimum wage is substantially lower than it was in the 1960s. Meanwhile, worker productivity has doubled. Isn’t it time for a raise?

Now, you might argue that even if the current minimum wage seems low, raising it would cost jobs. But there’s evidence on that question — lots and lots of evidence, because the minimum wage is one of the most studied issues in all of economics. U.S. experience, it turns out, offers many “natural experiments” here, in which one state raises its minimum wage while others do not. And while there are dissenters, as there always are, the great preponderance of the evidence from these natural experiments points to little if any negative effect of minimum wage increases on employment.

<...>

So Mr. Obama’s wage proposal is good economics. It’s also good politics: a wage increase is supported by an overwhelming majority of voters, including a strong majority of self-identified Republican women (but not men). Yet G.O.P. leaders in Congress are opposed to any rise. Why? They say that they’re concerned about the people who might lose their jobs, never mind the evidence that this won’t actually happen. But this isn’t credible...today’s Republican leaders clearly feel disdain for low-wage workers. Bear in mind that such workers, even if they work full time, by and large don’t pay income taxes (although they pay plenty in payroll and sales taxes), while they may receive benefits like Medicaid and food stamps. And you know what this makes them, in the eyes of the G.O.P.: “takers,” members of the contemptible 47 percent who, as Mitt Romney said to nods of approval, won’t take responsibility for their own lives.

- more -

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/18/opinion/krugman-raise-that-wage.html

Who knew that someone would find the President pushing an increase to the minimum wage upsetting?

[Cha]

8. Thanks for Harkin's statement, ProSense

[Dawgs]

53. Spin it any way you want. $9.00 is not nearly enough.

Once again Obama starts with the weakest position (public option) and will end up with something weaker.

And, once again you defend him for it.

[ProSense]

55. Here's

"Spin it any way you want. $9.00 is not nearly enough."

...more "spin"

California's minimum wage is $8 per hour. The highest rate in the country is San Francisco's at $10.55 per hour. San Jose also has a minimum wage over $10, which just went into effect. The highest state rate is Washington's at $9.19.

In January, San Francisco will officially be the first U.S. city to have a minimum wage of above $10, nearly $3 more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. And that won’t be the only locale in which workers will see a little extra pay in 2012. In fact, eight states will be raising their minimum wage next year, which, according to the Economic Policy Institute, will benefit 1.4 million workers:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/21/394180/millions-workers-minimum-wage/

Check out the wages by state: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2823309

The President's proposal and Harkin's increases the tipped wage.

Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Would Give Millions Of Workers First Raise In 22 Years
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/tipped-minimum-wage-increase_n_3155656.html

[Dawgs]

56. Okay, you posted something completely unrelated to my post. Good for you. n/t

[ProSense]

57. Were you

"Okay, you posted something completely unrelated to my post. Good for you. "

...expecting me to address this part of your comment: "And, once again you defend him for it."

I'm pushing for an increase in the minimum wage. You're posting silly comments. It's not my fault you don't like facts.

[Dawgs]

59. Nope. Wrong again.

It was the part where I said $9.00 is not nearly enough.

[ProSense]

61. OK

"Nope. Wrong again. It was the part where I said $9.00 is not nearly enough."

...that's your opinion. Feel free to support Senator Harkin's proposal.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022822520#post2
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022439826

I'm pushing for an increase in the minimum wage. There are two proposals on the table. I support both. If Senator Harkin's proposal isn't enough, you can always get your members of Congress to introduce a proposal increasing it to your desired amount.

I'm pushing the two proposals currently on the table.

[Dawgs]

64. It has nothing to do with Harkin's proposal.

My problem is with Obama's lack of leadership, understanding, and poor negotiating skills.

He's the President. Not just a Congressperson.

I agree that both proposals would be better than nothing.

[ProSense]

68. I'm not

It has nothing to do with Harkin's proposal. My problem is with Obama's lack of leadership, understanding, and poor negotiating skills.

He's the President. Not just a Congressperson.

I agree that both proposals would be better than nothing.

...interested in your "problem" with Obama. I don't need to hear everyone's "problem" with Obama in an OP pushing to increase the minimum wage. If you agree that the proposals are "better than nothing," fine.

[Dawgs]

71. So I'm not supposed to give my opinion because YOU DON'T NEED to hear it?

Fat chance.

[ProSense]

73. No,

"So I'm not supposed to give my opinion because YOU DON'T NEED to hear it?"

...you can give your opinion, I said I wasn't interested in your "problem" with Obama.

[Dawgs]

75. You sure have a funny way of showing that you're not interested. n/t

[Cha]

3. So good PBO is getting out and talking to People who are willing to listen..

President Obama at Manor New Tech High School in Austin, Texas, May 9

http://theobamadiary.com/2013/05/09/and-next/

thanks ProSense

[ProSense]

7. Well, there are

"So good PBO is getting out and talking to People who are willing to listen.."

...focused on what will improve their own lives, and not what will destroy Obama.

[freshwest]

21. +1. Look at the optimism there, may inspire a few other people, too.

[Skittles]

9. Texas is a right to die, er, work state

[msongs]

10. more crappy framing from Obama - the word he needs to use is "republicans" NOT Congress nt

[ProSense]

12. Actually,

"more crappy framing from Obama - the word he needs to use is 'republicans' NOT Congress"

...that's a one-liner searching for a criticism FAIL. In the context of what he said, your substitute doesn't work

President: "but some of them have been blocked in Congress 'republicans,' for frankly political reasons"

[a2liberal]

19. So all that you can find to criticize in that statement...

is that msongs didn't write out a longer statement specifying exactly how the word would have been substituted into the sentence the President said when commenting on he should be referring to Republicans instead of Congress when framing who's been blocking things? That's real strong criticism there.

"he needs to use the word x instead of y" != "he needed to literally substitute x in the place of y without changing any syntax when making his statement"

[ProSense]

13. How about a bit of irony

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10021865841

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

14. I'm sorry, but you haven't been paying attention. The president HAS been blaming Republicans

directly. I admit that he was a bit tepid last year, but that's not the case NOW!! He's been on fire. Just because the Corporate Media doesn't show his speeches or addresses doesn't mean that he's not attacking the Republicans for their recalcitrance.

[Go Vols]

11. People can live on $9.00 an hour?

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

15. Find a way to get it through Congress, then let's talk...

[ProSense]

16. Well,

People can live on $9.00 an hour

...$9 or $10 (http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2822646) is better than $7.25.

It does mean at least $60 more per week for minimum wage earners. It should be more, and it would be great if a higher rate passed.

[Cobalt Violet]

17. no, it's a shameful pittance.

It won't raise workers out of poverty.

[ProSense]

18. Actually,

"It won't raise workers out of poverty"

...it would help, and $10 per hour would be even better: http://www.nelp.org/page/-/rtmw/NELP-FMWA-2013-Fact-Sheet-030413.pdf

I wouldn't call it a "shameful pittance."

[woo me with science]

20. It's worse than that. It's a fucking insult as long as the President is simultaneously

pushing to cut Social Security benefits, pass the mammoth job-destroying and wage-depressing Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement, and expand H-1B visas.

You can't take this shit out of context and pretend this is representation on behalf of the people. This is like handing someone a few dollars while you are simultaneously beating him to a pulp, emptying his bank account, stealing his job, and starving his children.

We are under a sustained ASSAULT by the one percent, and this Democratic President is participating, aggressively, in the assault.

[ProSense]

23. Hey

It's worse than that. It's a fucking insult as long as the President is simultaneously

pushing to cut Social Security benefits, pass the mammoth job-destroying and wage-depressing Trans-Pacific Free Trade Agreement, and expand H-1B visas.

You can't take this shit out of context and pretend this is representation on behalf of the people. This is like handing someone a few dollars while you are simultaneously beating him to a pulp, emptying his bank account, stealing his job, and starving his children.

We are under a sustained ASSAULT by the one percent, and this Democratic President is participating, aggressively, in the assault.

...it's a "fucking insult" to keep pushing this bullshit "propaganda" everytime a good proposal is mentioned or a Republican is criticized.

E.J. Dionne and Robert Borosage agree: push the President's best initiatives.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022807

One party is threatening the recovery far more than the other is
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022819598

[forestpath]

25. +1000

[Cobalt Violet]

24. Don't tell me it's not a shameful pittance! I've been on minimum wage for 5 yrs now.

How long have you been living on minimum wage since you feel the need to correct me. You must have some superior knowledge about what constitutes a shameful pittance.

I have no hope of ever sleeping in a real bed with a real pillow or any furnature for that matter. After my cat passes away I won't ever be able to afford to have another pet in my life. I love animals and I'll never be able to have one again because I simply can't afford it and would always have to worry what would happen to it if I end up homeless. Can't even afford to shop at thrift shops anymore!

Sure 9 is better than 7.24 but it's still a shameful pittance that excludes the possibility of ANY comforts of life and doesn't cover the necessities either.


But as long a you wouldn't call it a shameful pittance it must not be. I must be completely wrong. My life must be one big illusion.

[ProSense]

26. Before

"Don't tell me it's not a shameful pittance! I've been on minimum wage for 5 yrs now...Sure 9 is better than 7.24 but it's still a shameful pittance that excludes the possibility of ANY comforts of life and doesn't cover the necessities either."

...the last change it was $5.15: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022368902

Call you whatever you want to, but it still represents a needed increase for millions of people, including those left out of the current equation: http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022403409

[Cobalt Violet]

29. It's lost a lot of purchasing power since BEFORE.

If you're not on it now you don't know how bad it is now.

[ProSense]

31. Yes,

"If you're not on it now you don't know how bad it is now. "

...but the proposal is not to keep it where it is, it's to increase it and tie it to inflation, which means unlike the last time, it will now go up every year.

Like I said, $10 would be better, but why the anger at an increase?

[Cobalt Violet]

33. it's not enough! it's not even 2 dollars.

Is that really that difficult to understand.

I think there are a lot of people like yourself who are blissfully unaware just how angry we working poor are getting.

That will change.

[ProSense]

35. It's not

it's not enough! it's not even 2 dollars.

Is that really that difficult to understand.

I think there are a lot of people like yourself who are blissfully unaware just how angry we working poor are getting.

That will change.

...$2, it's $1.75, but it is an increase. You can support the Harkin proposal which is a little more. You can push for more.

Check out the wages by state: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2823309

In 2012, San Francisco became the first city to increase the minimum wage to over $10.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2823342

[freshwest]

28. Nor are the people who would be thrilled to get $9 an hour be shameful, either.

To ask for a minimum wage of $9 an hour is radical in Texas - their minimum wage is $7.25.

Other states are even lower - Wyoming with $5.15, other have less. Alabama and others have NO minimum wage.

See the chart below:

http://www.dol.gov/whd/minwage/america.htm

I'm not sure why some people think it's NOTHING to give people $9 a hour when they say $10.10 an hour is needed. In my liberal state, the wage is only $9.19, but is likely to go up again soon.

Some people cannot wait for the perfect. Keep upping the wage to give power to the lower wage earners. They will ask for more later with the freedom they'll get with this.

[ProSense]

32. Exactly.

In January, San Francisco will officially be the first U.S. city to have a minimum wage of above $10, nearly $3 more than the federal minimum wage of $7.25. And that won’t be the only locale in which workers will see a little extra pay in 2012. In fact, eight states will be raising their minimum wage next year, which, according to the Economic Policy Institute, will benefit 1.4 million workers:

http://thinkprogress.org/economy/2011/12/21/394180/millions-workers-minimum-wage/

[Cobalt Violet]

36. Who said it was "NOTHING"?

People have said it's a shameful pittance and an insult but not nothing.

We don't need you to whip some chart out and share your delusions of how thrilled we are going to be with another minimum wage increase that still leave us locked deep in poverty.

[Cha]

41. It is a good start, freshwest.. and would be appreciated

by those who are only getting $7.25 an hour now. I know it would have been for me when I was still in the work force.

I make more now that I'm retired than I did while working. I topped off at about $8.00 per hour. Course, I loved my job.. non profit.. so it's where I wanted to stay.

Well said!..

Keep upping the wage to give power to the lower wage earners. They will ask for more later with the freedom they'll get with this.

[freshwest]

43. Yup, gotta start somewhere. The momentum will build.

[Cha]

45. Just like with

Obamacare!

[ProSense]

50. On minimum wage, U.S. lags many rivals

On minimum wage, U.S. lags many rivals

By Chris Isidore



President Obama's proposal to hike the U.S. minimum wage to $9 an hour would still leave the lowest-paid American workers trailing their counterparts in several other major industrial countries.

The world's highest minimum wage is paid in Australia, where workers are paid at least 15.96 Australian dollars, or $16.91, an hour.

Canada does not have a national minimum wage, but the lowest provincial minimum wage is in Alberta, where workers must be paid at least 9.75 Canadian dollars, or $9.73, an hour, while workers in Yukon get at least $10.27.

Figures from the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, a multinational research body, show nine countries around the world where the minimum wage is more than the $9 President Obama is proposing.

- more -

http://money.cnn.com/2013/02/13/news/economy/minimum-wage-countries/index.html

Yup we need to start somewhere: $9 would bring us closer to the UK, and $10 would be even better.

It would be great if we could match Australia or lead the developed countries.

[woo me with science]

22. Of course not. Nine dollars per hour is a fucking insult

*especially* when viewed alongside the HUGE, assaultive policies that are being proposed simultaneously, like cuts to SS, the wage- and job-destroying Trans-Pacific free trade assault, and the expansion of H-1B visas to suck jobs from Americans.

[ProSense]

27. "Nine dollars per hour is a fucking insult"

The President proposed increasing the minimum wage.

[CreekDog]

37. I want to see him push for parity for tipped workers, not the $2.13/hour BS currently

I would accept the $9/hour if he is pushing for it to be indexed for inflation --is he?

[ProSense]

39. Yes, it

"I would accept the $9/hour if he is pushing for it to be indexed for inflation --is he? "

...is tied to inflation: http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2822687

The President's proposal and Harkin's increases the tipped wage.

Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Would Give Millions Of Workers First Raise In 22 Years
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/tipped-minimum-wage-increase_n_3155656.html

[tridim]

52. Sure thing Woo, everything the president does is an insult.

Woo me with poutrage.

[JoePhilly]

69. Here's the video that proves it ... Thanks Obama!!

[woo me with science]

79. The Third Way specializes at mocking the impoverishment of millions.

Last edited Fri May 10, 2013, 06:53 PM - Edit history (2)

Nine dollar minimum wage, still not even *close* to a living wage, while simultaneously ASSAULTING Americans in multiple major, serious ways: by pushing cuts in Social Security, across-the-board austerity cuts, and massive assaults in free trade and work visas that will drive more Americans to lower wages or out of jobs entirely.

And all you have is mockery.

Don't think Americans aren't paying attention.

[JoePhilly]

60. Obama calls for increase in minimum wage ... DU outraged!

Absolutely Hilarious.

[woo me with science]

81. See post 79.

You may be guffawing, but millions aren't laughing.

The game, the facade, isn't working anymore, You can't give a few dollars and claim to be working on behalf of the 99 percent, when you are simultaneously pushing major policies that will drive down wages and destroy jobs.

We are under assault by our own administration. If the administration wants praise, they need to do better than this. They need to show they are determined to do more than give a few token dollars here while simultaneously participating in multiple, huge, gravely serious assaults on wages, jobs, and safety nets for the profit of the one percent.

[Progressive dog]

84. It is pretty funny

To some of them Obama can't do anything right.

Do they really think they'll get any raise while Republicans control the House? The thugs have already sequestered part of the government, making cuts, costing jobs. They've demanded and got concessions in spending (more jobs gone) in return for paying on the bills they ran up. They've asked for much more in cuts than they've gotten. They've held the income, the health care, the quality of life of everyone outside of their favored 1% hostage to their insane ideology.

So the increase in minimum wage they haven't gotten, the raise they likely won't get, is only 24% and indexed to inflation, but it's not big enough and that's Obama's fault.

[MADem]

46. Better than they can on seven bucks and change. Ya gotta start somewhere. nt

[galileoreloaded]

30. i say $15 an hour

and lets get this party started.

we cant rebuild anything until we crash it so at least lets get it done so my kids don't have to.

[4 t 4]

34. Go to :)

Fight For Fifteen - and sign the petition and please pass it on.

[Warren DeMontague]

38. It's a start.

I'd like to see a livable minimum wage. I don't believe $9/hr is in any way, shape, or form livable in most parts of this country.

[4 t 4]

40. It should be $22 an hour

if it fell in line with all other economic factors but they are just starting to ask for $15 you have to be really sick and cruel to deney that. It's just a start of what should be.

[ProSense]

42. Yes,

"I'd like to see a livable minimum wage. I don't believe $9/hr is in any way, shape, or form livable in most parts of this country."

...there needs to be a living wage.

California's minimum wage is $8 per hour. The highest rate in the country is San Francisco's at $10.55 per hour. San Jose also has a minimum wage over $10, which just went into effect. The highest state rate is Washington's at $9.19.

[MADem]

47. I don't think a soul with even half a brain disagrees with you.

But we gotta start somewhere.

Maybe some of these cheapskates will pay a bit more, get better quality in their workforce, and realize the magic truth of the expression "Ya get whatcha pay for," and realize that a worker who isn't shitting bricks when they get sick because they have no sick days is a less stressed and long-term asset to a company; a healthy worker with a medical plan is a more productive worker than a sick worker; and a worker who isn't having to dash off to a second job to pay the rent is better at their tasks than they would be if they were stretched too thin and short on sleep.

[Warren DeMontague]

48. Yep. While acknowledging that we're not where I want to be, I appreciate the progress that is made.

I want a SPHC system. Or Medicare for all, if that positioning works better. Same thing. I think it makes far better sense than what we've got going on. Still, I recognize that the HCA bill, particularly the bit about guaranteed issue, IS a step in the right direction. It's an improvement over doing nothing IMHO.

Similarly, an increase in the min. wage is better than not having one.

[colsohlibgal]

44. $9 Is Woefully Inadequate

Even if a married couple both made this life would not be easy in 2013, it might have worked in 1970 but not now.

[4 t 4]

49. www. fight for fifteen

go there and please help and sign.Who in thier right mind thinks $15 is too much ??

[HughBeaumont]

54. There are some on this board who think $15 is too much.

I, of course, am not one of them. Minimum wage should be at the VERY LEAST $15 bucks an hour. It's utterly ridiculous, seeing where the wealthy live, what they drive, how much they make and how much profit their businesses are taking in, that they're all crying "poor". HORSESHIT.

[Ishoutandscream2]

51. I think some of you lost the really big deal here

Obama came into Texas, TEXAS, and made this proposal for raising the minimum wage. That's taking the fight to a "right to die" state as Skittles so skillfully refers to us.

I have been disappointed in the president over and over again. But this took some real guts. I'm so glad he came to our state to say this. It's a pretty big deal.

[JoePhilly]

58. "Obama angers his base by calling for an increase to the minimum wage" ...

That's my suggestion for an edited OP title given the theme of many of the responses you've received thus far.

I'm waiting for some one to demand an actual pony.

[Dawgs]

62. Mine is inside.

"Obama angers his base by calling for a measly increase to the minimum wage while also working to reduce benefits for Social Security and Medicare"

He doesn't get off the hook just because of this.

[ProSense]

63. OK

"Obama angers his base by calling for a measly increase to the minimum wage while also working to reduce benefits for Social Security and Medicare"

He doesn't get off the hook just because of this.

...then leave those who want to push for an increase to do so. You don't have to.

[Dawgs]

65. Who says I don't want to push for an increase? Even if it's measly.

Again, you're completely missing my point.

[JoePhilly]

67. Your point seems to be .... any positive must be negated.

[Dawgs]

72. Not at all. If he would push for $10.00 or more I would praise him for it. n/t

[JoePhilly]

66. Right, he should have called for no increase. Ignored it.

And you'd have to find a different excuse to vent your outrage. Not that I think you'd find that difficult. I mean if you can take something positive he says and turn it to a negative, you'll always be able to find an outlet.

Btw ... wouldn't an increase in the minimum wage (even a small one) contribute MORE money to the funds for Social Security and Medicare?

DAMN THAT OBAMA!!!

[Dawgs]

74. Thanks for putting words in my mouth. That's always a good tactic when trying to make a point.

Last edited Fri May 10, 2013, 04:50 PM - Edit history (1)

First, nowhere did I say he should have ignored it. I said he should have taken a real stand and went with a something that is actually worth a damn.

Second, going to a $9.00 minimum wage is a positive. I never said it wasn't.

Third, my problem with SS and Medicare is not how it's funded, but how Obama is willing to cut benefits for those that need it most.

Hopefully that's simple enough for you to understand.

[DFW]

70. Increasing spending on education in Texas

That's sort of like increasing spending on deep sea fishing development in Wyoming. It's not a long way up from zero to get where we are now in spending on education in Texas (Highland Park High School in Dallas excepted). How do you think we elected a governor like Rick Perry, anyway, hmm? Hint--it wasn't a majority of Texas MENSA members that put him over the top.

[cstanleytech]

76. I dont support the raise.

Not because I dont think people should be getting more money but because I believe we will end up right where we are with the rich getting richer by just raising prices on goods and services to counter a raise to the minimum wage.
If the goal is to get employeers to pay the employees better without raising prices then the only way thats going to happen is hit them where it hurts, their profits.
Say by basing part of the % rate the company pays in corporate taxes on how big the gap is for the companies highest paid to its lowest paid.

[Stewland]

77. If passed it won't go into effect for well over 2 years

The rate of 9.00 is not enough even at today's cost of living.Yet again Mr Hope and Change fails to deliver. He was the lesser evil last election. Even so we are so very fu...Ed over by those calling themselves democrats and or republicans. If Costco can sustain its profitability at a starting wage of 11.50 plus benefits then they all can. People before profits. Obama again disappoints.

[JDPriestly]

78. Good for Obama! That's what we need from him.

More similar proposals right in the middle of the idiots' territory.

Good job, Mr. President. More. More. More.

[Cleita]

80. It's still not a living wage.

Bless him for trying but he really should be insisting on a living wage rather than a little raise for wages that will be inadequate anyway. It won't stop the working poor from still needing food stamps and even being homeless. My first job full time job 55 years ago was minimum wage and I could live on it. Today I couldn't live on a minimum wage if I didn't have another income.

[cstanleytech]

82. Problem is trying to mandate a "living wage" would be difficult considering

the varies factors like how what might be a living wage in say Iowa might not be a living wage in Hawaii.
So imo what we need to fight for is a way to get companies to redirect the money from the hands of the few upper management only and give their employees a more fair share.

[Cleita]

83. Ah, c'mon, we managed to back in the fifties and sixties.

Back then it was called minimum wage but it was indexed to inflation. There was an average for a national minimum wage and states that were more expensive to live in like California could have their own minimum wage that was higher. They still do, however, since minimum wage is no longer a living wage, even a state like California has stopped mandating a living wage. We need to change the name to living wage and then put into place those indexes that will maintain it as a living wage. Then states like California can add a dollar or two if they like and states like Iowa or Alabama who don't like to do things like that at least will have to pay their workers a minimum living wage set by the feds.