Frist Slips 'Poison Pill' to Minimum Wage Bill

[Bob Geiger]

It was so much easier for Senate Republicans to kill both attempts by Senator Ted Kennedy (D-MA) to raise the minimum wage last year with no midterm elections looming right around the corner. With nothing more than their routine disregard for the poor as an excuse, the GOP leadership killed two bills offered by Kennedy in 2005 to raise a federal minimum wage that has remained the same for almost a decade.

This year it's tougher, because Republican Senators up for reelection may have to explain screwing working Americans in a more recent vote while, at the same time, managing to give themselves nine pay raises, totaling almost $32,000, in the same ten-year span.

So Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) has found a new way to pull his Simon Legree act and this time it takes the form of attaching a "poison pill" amendment to Kennedy's S.AMDT.4322, which would gradually raise the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour over the next two years.

A poison-pill is a procedural maneuver in which an onerous amendment is attached to a bill under consideration to force proponents of the original legislation to bail out and drop the whole issue. It's designed to either kill a bill entirely or create a situation that forces the other side into a negotiation to water down their original legislation to an unrecognizable point.

And the best way for a Religious Right go-to guy like Frist to do that -- and to poke a sharp stick in the eye of Senate Democrats -- is to attach an anti-abortion bill, that must be voted on before the minimum wage measure. Frist's S.AMDT.4323 would criminalize the transport of a minor across state lines to get an abortion and Democrats have to contend with that before they can get to the minimum wage issue.

Frist's intent is clear: To force red-state Democrats to vote "yea" on an anti-abortion bill -- or face the wrath of their conservative constituents this year -- which, if it passes, would then force all Democrats to vote against the minimum wage to nullify the anti-abortion part.

Have a headache yet? It's a disgusting thing to behold and another low for Republicans as they show they will stop at nothing to hold down wages on the people struggling most in our country.

"Too many hard-working people are living on the edge--just one serious illness, one pink slip away from bankruptcy," said Kennedy in arguing for his bill on the Senate floor. "For minimum wage workers, the American dream is even further from reality. Minimum wage workers are men and women of dignity. They care for their children and for young children in daycare centers. They care for senior citizens in nursing homes. They check out groceries in the supermarket. They clean our office buildings. But the minimum wage they receive no longer covers their bills. A minimum wage worker who works 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, earns just $10,700. That is almost $6,000 below the poverty line for a family of three."

The fact that at least 5.4 million more Americans, including one million children, have fallen into poverty since George W. Bush took office in 2000 seems to have no impact on Frist.

"We have agreed to set aside amendments so that the Senator from Massachusetts can offer an amendment on the minimum wage, and I second-degreed that amendment with a child custody protection amendment," said Frist. "Our discussions have led to the understanding that after we figure out how we are going to address both the minimum wage and child custody protection over the course of this afternoon or tonight or tomorrow, we will get around to having a vote on the minimum wage issue."

And, based on those ground rules, there's a very good chance that Kennedy and Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will decide to drop this incarnation of a minimum wage increase and fight that battle at a later date.

I would ask how Frist sleeps at night but, as a Republican, I'm sure he sleeps just fine.

Update (06/21/06 1:30 PM EDT): The Frist anti-abortion amendment to Ted Kennedy's (D-MA) attempt to raise the minimum wage has been withdrawn and Kennedy's bill, along with a faux bill to hike the wage rate by Mike Enzi (R-WY) have both been rejected. The Senate web site is reporting these votes somewhat inaccurately right now and I will post later on what really happened. Bottom line in that a minimum wage increase has at least temporarily been defeated.

You can reach Bob Geiger at [e-mail] and read more from him at Democrats.com.

[depakid]

1. That's just hardball politics

Something that the Dems seem to have forgotten how to play.

[IndyOp]

15. Hardball politics = Moral bankruptcy. I don't want Dems playing. (nt)

[depakid]

26. If the Dems don't play the game to win

using all of the available procedures, with Machiavellian zeal- then we lose both issues and elections.

That's always been the reality of the situation in Washington.

[rucky]

36. Everybody loses with shit like this.

Show's over...you may now return to your minimum wage jobs.

[Demit]

2. Is it too much to expect that Dems will publicize Frist's maneuver, and

scream bloody murder over it by calling press conferences and insisting the press pay attention? Did I just answer my own question?

[Warpy]

3. You did, they'll roll over as usual

and the press will gleefully report that Democrats voted against raising the minimum wage.

Getting the point yet, folks? We have got to get rid of the useless baggage in Congress, all of it, both parties.

The wedge issue is WAGES. If a Democrat is too fucking stupid to campaign on it, he needs to go.

[chill_wind]

23. Agree. Fight the class war.

And that's what is. A coorporatist jack-boot war on the working poor.
Dems should be screaming bloody murder on their behalf.

[Time for change]

10. I think that IS what they need to do

If the press claims they voted against a minimum wage bill, they need to explain the poison amendment.

[pansypoo53219]

4. when rich assholes beget

cat murdering pricks.
fristie is evil.

[im10ashus]

5. K&R for the working class!

:kick:

[ninkasi]

6. Nothing is too low for them

There seems to be absolutely no low Republicans will stoop to in order to give the poor the shaft. They are already overworked, underpaid, and under enormous stress trying to get through life. They are looked down on by the wealthy and greedy, and completely ignored except when Republicans think they can trick them into voting Republican.

Frist, who thought he could diagnose Terry Shaivo from looking at a video, was oh, so self-righteously pontificating about the value of human life. Apparently, life is valuable to him only if he can use it for publicity. The minimum wage worker's lives have value, too, and it's disgusting that in this country, they are looked upon by some as inconveniences. They are not asking for hand-outs, or charity, they are only asking to be fairly paid for the work they do.

So Congress has voted themselves around 32,000 of pay raises in the last 10 years, and that's 3 times what a minimum wage worker earns in a year. I will never, ever understand how anybody with an ounce of compassion or decency could ever vote for one of those creatures.

[gasperc]

7. Tie them together and fight

throw it right back into the republicans faces

[Bretttido]

8. Frist is a pathetic excuse for a human being

He should go back to what he loves: ripping out the heart of apes and watching them beat in his hand while tears of joy drip down his face.

[Supersedeas]

31. disgusting husk of dried feces

[zulchzulu]

9. I sure hope Frist runs in 2008...he's such an ASS

As for him running, it would be nice for him to get indicted for insider trading in August 2008...

[flpoljunkie]

11. The Senate appears to be voting right now on the Kennedy amendment

to the Defense Bill. It would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour, over three years. There is no vote listed for the Frist amendment you mentioned--yet.

The Enzi alternative minimum wage bill would evidently do away with overtime pay. Such a deal--only a Republican could love!

[flpoljunkie]

14. Kennedy minimum wage passes 52-46, and is automatically withdrawn!

Perhaps this is what you are referring to with Frist's "poison pill." What is going on here?

[IronLionZion]

29. it needed 60 votes to pass for some reason

So it failed by 8 votes. I'm not sure anyone really understands Senate procedure. It's complicated and FUBAR.

[Deep13]

12. By his photo, I can see that Frist is brain dead.

Someone pull the plug.

[Up2Late]

13. This is exactly why it bothers me so much when people here...

...get all uppity about NOT voting for this or that Democrat because of a single vote they make for or against a Democrat proposed bills.

This sort of thing happens all the time, sometimes it's the Democrat who voted YES on a bill, who should have read and voted against a bill, that folks here should be angry at, because "poison pill" amendments are added all the time that shouldn't pass.

[peacetalksforall]

16. We must speak for the $5.00 earners who can't afford the internet. nt

[Armstead]

17. In fairness, it's one upsmanship to counter one-upsmanship.

Before I get jumped on, let me emphasize that I love Ted Kennedy (he's my Senator), I totally support his relentless efforts to raise the Minimum Wage.

However, in this particular case, his proposal is being tacked onto a Defense Spending Bill. Therefore, in itself it is based on an attempt at parliamentary one-upsmanship with an amendment that has nothing to do with the bill it is tacked onto.

So in a sense, Frist is just one-upping Kennedy's one-upsmanship.

Again, I totally support Kennedy on this. However, this does reflect what's wrong with Congress in a bigger non-partisan sense. Too many amendments that both distract from original legislation and attempt to push through things that have little to do with each other. It's also how so much pork gets through the system.

It confuses issues, and is one reason little actually gets done. Right now, that's a good thing, because it prevents Repugs from ramming through even more.

But it could cut both ways, when Democrats take back control.

I'd rather see it possible to have a minimum wage bill proposed as a minimum wage bill o its own terms. That'd force the hand of trhe Repugs in a direct way, and show that they are opposed to workers.

[Demeter]

18. Did Frist Think This Up All By Himself?

Somehow, I doubt it.

[Armstead]

19. He just pulled out an old GOP chestnut

You don't like something the Democrats are trying to do, just tack on something obnoxious related to abortion or gay rights.

[Totally Committed]

20. Greedy b*stards!

They can give millions and millions to upper-income folks as tax cuts, but can't allow the minimum wage to go up for the poorest.

WTF more has to happen before the Democratic Party rises up as one and says NO MORE!?????

TC

[indigo32]

21. He is a disgusting excuse

for a human being

[Child_Of_Isis]

22. The Dems could turn it around as

"republicans promoting motherhood to minor females " if they were as slick (and mean) with words as the pukes.

And following the puke line, they go on all the talk shows and talk about how this will lead to grown men impregnating minors. The "How" doesn't matter. The insinuation is republicans want to have children with minors.

All they have to do is repeat this meme over and over. Even though it is totally illogical and down right stupid the public will eventually believe it.

This is exactly how the republicans would handle it.

[MercutioATC]

24. Alternately, Dems COULD just do their friggin' jobs.

Vote "yea" on good bills, vote "nay" on bad bills, and stop putting politics before integrity.

...but that'd be too simple, wouldn't it?

:eyes:

[Czolgosz]

25. This is an issue we MUST prioritize (charts and graphs)

[young_at_heart]

27. He wears that special "neo-con" self-righteous look so well

It's amazing to me how robotic these men seem to be. Tom DeLay hair, same fake smile, perfect family, etc. etc. He sleeps just fine at night, but I, too, wonder how he can. How can any of them?

[Supersedeas]

35. and yet he has to stoop to such tactics--self-righteous impotence

[Jesterstear]

28. So basically...

Both sides tried to use dirty politics.

I'm a firm believer that each bill should be passed on its merits alone, not attached to something else because it either won't pass on its own or because it's meant to kill the main proposal. This is precisely why our congress is seen as a do-nothing group.

Both sides are wrong on this one.

[IronLionZion]

30. I want Frist to live on $5.15 an hour

...after being released from prison many years from now!

[MediumBrownDog]

32. I pay my 14 year old babysitter $7 an hour.....

because that's the going rate for teenagers in my area. What does that tell you about an adult trying to live on $5.15 an hour??? It's outrageous. Here in VA, the minimum wage will never increase until the federal rate is raised. The state legislature can't even pass a budget on time, much less tackle a controversial issue (they almost imploded this year on.... a transportation bill. Ooooh, aaaaaah). They'll never take up the minimum wage.

[Czolgosz]

33. 83% of Americans favor raising the minimum wage, including 72% Republicans

THIS IS OUR BEST WEDGE ISSUE!

Here is a great article: <http://pewresearch.org/obdeck/?ObDeckID=18>

Here's an excerpt:

"By an overwhelming margin (83% to 14%), the American public favors raising the federal minimum wage to $7.15 per hour -- a hefty $2.00 an hour increase. And nearly half (49%) say they strongly support such an increase. While there are differences in the extent of support across political and socioeconomic lines, raising the minimum wage receives widespread support from both Republicans and Democrats, wealthy and poor.

... In the 30 states where the federal $5.15 minimum applies, 82% say they support a $2-increase to $7.15, while just 16% are opposed. In states where a minimum wage of $7.15 or more has already been passed, 88% are in favor, a difference that is not statistically significant.

Democrats express more support for minimum wage hikes, but the gap between Democrats and Republicans is relatively small in this era of intense partisanship. Raising the minimum wage by two dollars to $7.15 is nearly universally supported among Democrats – 91% favor the idea and just 8% are opposed. Independents agree by an 87%-to-11% margin. A larger proportion of Republicans (24%) opposes an increase to $7.15, yet still 72% are in favor."

Here are a few more graphs:

[Cell Whitman]

34. though they have conditioned their cult following

to believe the minimum wage is the work of the devil, they have in past eventually gone along with some raise in it during election years because they know it is popular. I expect they will cave and some watered down amount of a raise will be passed. They don't want this as an issue. It is one even the people who think the Republicans are normal can see through. Repugs like issues they can blow smoke over.

I know you all have seen this but for any of you lurkers...here's your leader...

http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060612/COLUMNIST0101/606120346/1092/NEWS

There’s a potential pothole in U.S. Sen. Bill Frist’s road to the White House: He’s a confessed kitty killer.

He fessed up in his 1989 book, "Transplant," to adopting cats from shelters when he was in medical school, treating them like pets for a while, and then using them in his research experiments. Maybe in hindsight, Trent Lott should have seen it coming. ...

Bet Frist wishes now he’d refrained from giving out too much information in his first book. He made his case in "Transplant" for saving lives by learning through experiments with animals while at Harvard. It’s the part where he kept them as pets first that is bothersome.

"Desperate, obsessed with my work, I visited the various animal shelters in the Boston suburbs, collecting cats, taking them home, treating them as pets for a few days, then carting them off to the lab to die in the interests of science. And medicine. And health care. And treatment of disease. And my project.

"It was, of course, a heinous and dishonest thing to do, and I was totally schizoid about the entire matter. By day, I was little Billy Frist, the boy who lived on Bowling Avenue in Nashville and had decided to become a doctor because of his gentle father and a dog named Scratchy. By night, I was Dr. William Harrison Frist, future cardiothoracic surgeon, who was not going to let a few sentiments about cute, furry little creatures stand in the way of his career. In short, I was going a little crazy."

Frist recently commented about the power he felt when holding the last beats of a dog’s heart in his hand.Good thing little Scratchy had a decent hiding place while Frist was in med school.

http://www.cellwhitman.blogspot.com/