Jan 25, 2007 - El salario mínimo

For those that are politically inclined in the socioeconomics arena that may not have heard, the Senate Republicans filibustered the clean minimum wage bill. They have put forward proposals to exempt immigrant farmworkers from the bill and put in place more business subsidies. #1 If you want to create incentives for American employers to use immigrant labor, to create the demand that is fueling the emigration of millions of people from their homes to the United States, that's a really good way to do it. #2 Business subsidies on a minimum wage increase bill?? Really??? Do I really have to pay for more business subsidies with my tax dollars if I want to see a decently fair minimum wage in this country??? Y'all have found a way to make CEO salaries skyrocket, can't we find a way to pay people the same thing (adjusted for inflation) that we used to? (If minimum wage had kept pace with what it was in the 60's, it would be at ~$9 today.) I was, to say the least, upset.

My letter to Senator Warner (1/22/07) - who ended up being one of the five Republicans who voted against the filibuster:

Dear Senator Warner,
It is absolutely essential that no wrongful amendments get attached to the minimum wage bill.

Senator Warner, this is Virginia. You saw Senator Jim Webb win on working families strategy. Don't stand in the way of real progress on one of the most important economic issues of our times. There is a very real growing wage gap in this country, and Senators from Virginia need to be very clear on where they stand on this issue.

The Republican estate tax amendment to the minimum wage bill was one of the most despicable actions I have seen the Republican Congress take. And I'm sure you read the Washington Post article this morning, "Confidence in Bush Leadership at All-Time Low," which included the following:

"Nearly nine in 10 Americans in this poll support raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (half of supporters would like it higher still), eight in 10 think Medicare should be able to negotiate prescription prices with drug companies, and a majority (55 percent) supports a loosening of restrictions of federal funding for embryonic stem cell research."

Now is not the time to block a minimum wage increase. Support for it is at an all-time high. If the minimum wage had kept pace with inflation, it would be over $9/hour today. If it had kept pace with productivity, it would be well over $12/hour. No one can live on $5.15/hour, just over $10,000 per year. The citizens of Virginia, who pay your salary, don't expect you to live on that. Please don't expect any of us to.

States that have put in force strong minimum wage legislation like Washington and California have seen none of the devastating economic effects certain conservative economists swear by, and, in fact, have seen much economic growth (http://news.yahoo.com/s/huffpost/20070122/cm_huffpost/039255).

I strongly urge and expect you not only to vote for the minimum wage increase and the rest of the 100-hours package, but also to lobby your colleagues in favor of these absolutely crucial bills. None is a hot-button issue. They are absolutely essential to the progress of our country and the quality of life we hold dear.

I anxiously await your vote and your reply.