These workers haven't had a raise in 22 years

[Scuba]

from my email ....

Dear Scuba,

In 1991, a gallon of gas cost $1.10 and the minimum wage for workers who might earn tips at their jobs was $2.13.

Now get this: Three presidents, more than 20 years and some serious economic changes later, businesses are still only required to pay tipped workers $2.13 an hour.

Hourly workers aren't much better off. The hourly minimum was last raised four years ago today to $7.25. Since then, workers across the country have been struggling to make ends meet, even those who work far more than 40 hours a week.

We're teaming up with the Campaign For America's Future, MoveOn.org and 99 Uniting to send Congress a clear message: Americans want and need the minimum wage increased.

http://action.seiu.org/page/s/raise-the-minimum-wage

In solidarity,
Alesa Mackool
SEIU

[Wounded Bear]

1. K & R

I make a little above minimum, myself. This is important.

[Taverner]

8. In a perfect world USMC vets would make more than minimum...

It is a crime and yes this IS important

[Wounded Bear]

19. That is something I would not like to be singled out on...

I served so that all could share the benefits of our society.

IMHO it's a 'crime' that anybody should be denied a living wage.

[Taverner]

20. This...is true

[leftstreet]

2. Meh. $10.10 an hr will just keep perpetuating poverty

It's close to that in some states already

Try $20 an hr

[Wednesdays]

3. But remember who controls the House of Representatives

$20 would be ideal, but we need something that would at least pass the Repuke Congress in the meantime.

[n2doc]

4. The repukes won't pass anything

but flatulence. They are committed to the destruction of this country, at least as long as Obama (or any Democrat) is president.

I do think something is better than nothing, and trying to triple the min. wage would have massive pushback. What we really need is an automatic escalator.

[leftstreet]

6. Maybe the Dems should offer to LOWER the wage

That should have no problem passing the 'repuke' congress

[tridim]

10. Yesterday your "solution" was to elect another CEO Pretzeldent.

And today you are flat out lying about the long-held Democratic position of raising the minimum wage.

Fantastic work leftstreet.

[leftstreet]

11. Nice try. Thx for stalking me though! n/t

[tridim]

12. You're quite welcome, I do enjoy it.

Are you going to give DU a reason why you just lied about the Democratic position on minimum wage?

[leftstreet]

13. I didn't lie. You're not very good at this, are you

If you're too young and/or inexperienced to understand how the modern US Prez functions as a modern CEO, I suggest you google.

If you can find something I posted claiming the Democrats don't want to raise the minimum wage, I suggest you copy/paste

Otherwise, I suggest you do something DU Juries routinely frown upon

[leftstreet]

18. You should make this an OP

Still waiting for that copy/paste proving I lied

[HangOnKids]

21. The discussion with that guy is over for now check out the alert results

Juror number 1 is hilarious! Hammer 'n Sickle Huggers? Jesus is it 1951? Thankfully his/her opinion didn't determine the outcome. I think this jury result is so fucking funny!



Juror #1 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: Pointing out to someone that what they say is a lie isn't a personal attack, OTOH calling them a liar is. And what leftstreet is saying is a lie. And tridim doesn't make DU stink. All the Hammer 'n Sickle Huggers and Paulbot Libertarians trolling here every fucking day is what makes DU stink.
Juror #2 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #3 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #4 voted to HIDE IT and said: No explanation given
Juror #5 voted to LEAVE IT ALONE and said: No explanation given
Juror #6 voted to HIDE IT and said: The post was disruptive and off track.

[Starry Messenger]

22. "Hammer 'n Sickle Hugger" would be an awesome screen name.

Damn. Somebody pick that!

[leftstreet]

24. Dibs! For DU name-change day!

[Starry Messenger]

27. Perfect!

[HangOnKids]

25. It is so fucking retro

We either have a really old poster with red scare nightmares or a 20 something who thinks crawling under desks is sexy.

[bvar22]

30. No. The discussion is not "over".

That poster has merely gotten himself Locked Out.
Enjoy!

[HangOnKids]

32. Well I did say over for now AND I MEANT WITH HIM

It is indeed a serious worthy discussion.

[Doctor_J]

29. That's the "sensible pragmatist (Obama)" solution

Then when the Repukes refuse, Obama will look like the adult in the room! Sure to backfire on the Repukes!!11!

[abelenkpe]

7. Nothing is going to pass

Reps won't pass anything. So why start at a compromised position that won't really help or solve the problem anyway? Go big and demonstrate democratic intention to truly help the struggling working class. Might not pass but will fire up voters and illustrate difference in party.

[Bunnahabhain]

17. I think...

$20 is too high in some areas and too low in others. There should be a geographic modifier so minimum wage in New York city is $45 but minimum wage in rural American is much lower, like $15. Also, many Rethugs live in rural settings while mainly the good side lives in big cities, so we need to account for that too.

[bvar22]

33. You know, when the Republicans are in the minority,

they ALWAYS seem to be able to get what they want anyway.

They do things like:

*find something the Democrats want, and Cut a Deal
OR
*sneak what they want into a "Comprehensive" Bill that Democrats can't vote against
OR
*tack what they want on to a popular bill at midnight that is ready to pass,
and slip it by
OR
*find something the Democrats REALLY want, and hold it hostage until they get what they want too.

When the Republicans are in The Minority, they do that stuff ALL the time.
Bush-the-Lesser NEVER had 60 votes in The Senate,
but managed to get almost everything he wanted.
How did THAT happen?

I wonder WHY the Democrats can't ever seem to find ways of getting what they say they want too. Other Congresses in the past were able to function this way.
These Democrats seem to just blame the Republicans and walk away without ever really trying very hard.
"We didn't have 60 votes, so we didn't even try."

Things that just make you go "Hmmmmm".

[monmouth3]

5. Done and k and r..n/t

[MotherPetrie]

9. K&R

[libodem]

15. God love them!

That was my union!

[img][/img]

[Scuba]

16. Thanks for being a nurse, America's most-admired profession!

[Starry Messenger]

23. k&r

[ProSense]

26. Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Would Give Millions Of Workers First Raise In 22 Years

Tipped Minimum Wage Increase Would Give Millions Of Workers First Raise In 22 Years

Millions of workers are poised to get a raise for the first time in more than 20 years.

Congress is considering legislation that would raise the base salary for tipped workers from $2.13 for the first time since 1991, Bloomberg highlighted in a report Thursday. If lawmakers pass the bill, it would mean a raise for the nation’s 2.3 million servers as well as other workers like hotel employees and parking valets, who rely largely on tips to make a living. In total, there are about 3.3 million workers employed in sectors that use the tipped minimum wage, which amounts to $4,430 per year for a full-time worker, according to a UPI report published last year.

President Obama proposed raising the tipped minimum wage and pegging it to inflation as part of his broader push to raise the minimum wage during his State of the Union address earlier this year.

- more -

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/04/25/tipped-minimum-wage-increase_n_3155656.html

[livingwagenow]

28. rec for any call for a min wage increase. LIVING WAGE = $14 an hour. nt

[bvar22]

31. OTOH, THESE "Workers" have enjoyed a Pay Raise every single year.

But, of course, most of these Americans belong to a Special Class of Americans,
the 1% or 1% gonnabes,
so they deserve the special attention,
because some Americans are "more equal" than others.

This class of Americans is SO Special,
that they have made their OWN Pay Raises AUTOMATIC
no matter How Badly they do their jobs.



You will know them by their [font size=3]WORKS.[/font]