Democrats say Minimum Wage hike not for everyone

[Big War Bird]

GOP hits Pelosi's 'hypocrisy' on wage bill
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
January 12, 2007

House Republicans yesterday declared "something fishy" about the major tuna company in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district being exempted from the minimum-wage increase that Democrats approved this week.
"I am shocked," said Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and his party's chief deputy whip, noting that Mrs. Pelosi campaigned heavily on promises of honest government. "Now we find out that she is exempting hometown companies from minimum wage. This is exactly the hypocrisy and double talk that we have come to expect from the Democrats."
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island's work force. StarKist's parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.
"There's something fishy going on here," said Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican.
During the House debate yesterday on stem-cell research, Mr. McHenry raised a parliamentary inquiry as to whether an amendment could be offered that would exempt American Samoa from stem-cell research, "just as it was for the minimum-wage bill."
A clearly perturbed Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who was presiding, cut off Mr. McHenry and shouted, "No, it would not be."
"So, the chair is saying I may not offer an amendment exempting American Samoa?" Mr. McHenry pressed.
"The gentleman is making a speech and will sustain," Mr. Frank shouted as he slammed his large wooden gavel against the rostrum.
Some Republicans who voted in favor of the minimum-wage bill were particularly irritated to learn yesterday -- after their vote -- that the legislation did not include American Samoa.
"I was troubled to learn of this exemption," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. "My intention was to raise the minimum wage for everyone. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."
A spokeswoman for Mrs. Pelosi said Wednesday that the speaker has not been lobbied in any way by StarKist or Del Monte.

Perhaps Pelosi and the dems just forgot that American Somoa was american territory. And I entirely believe that Del Monte did not lobby its hometown congressman, who happens to be third highest elected official in the land to keep its labor costs from being artificially inflated. And yes I was born yesterday.

[AMERICARULES]

A perfect example of utter liberal hypocrisy.

"Do as I say, not as I do." I imagine that we can expect such two-faced legislation pretty regularly over the next two years.

[danzig]

Why should anyone be shocked? For all the talking Democrats do (irony = Democrats taking the morally superior approach now a days) they are no different then Republicans. Companies close to GOP get sweetheart deals when Republicans control congress and those close to Democrats get them when they are.

[Big War Bird]

Why should anyone be shocked? For all the talking Democrats do (irony = Democrats taking the morally superior approach now a days) they are no different then Republicans. Companies close to GOP get sweetheart deals when Republicans control congress and those close to Democrats get them when they are.

I'm shocked to hear democrat admit that raising the minimum wage would be harmful to workers. I would have thought that they would thrown some staffer under the bus for before they admitted that.

[Last Roman]

A perfect example of utter liberal hypocrisy.

"Do as I say, not as I do." I imagine that we can expect such two-faced legislation pretty regularly over the next two years.

right, because republicans never do anything hypocritical

should we be shocked by this? another corrupt politician (if the accusations are true) big surpise

[ForgottenImmortal]

Like my dad said, "Democrats and Republicans are both bums, but Democrats are our bums." Maybe not eloquent, but it gets the point across. However I'm wondering where all your screaming is over stuff Republicans have done with the military-industrial complex or no-bid contracts in Iraq reconstruction, or the long laundry list of the latest corruption of our federal government. Put a cork in it please.

[RZZZA]

Like my dad said, "Democrats and Republicans are both bums, but Democrats are our bums." Maybe not eloquent, but it gets the point across. However I'm wondering where all your screaming is over stuff Republicans have done with the military-industrial complex or no-bid contracts in Iraq reconstruction, or the long laundry list of the latest corruption of our federal government. Put a cork in it please.

ROFL! amen....

[Erik]

Some Republicans who voted in favor of the minimum-wage bill were particularly irritated to learn yesterday -- after their vote -- that the legislation did not include American Samoa.

How could they find out after the vote?
Didn't they read it?
Or was this exception made after the vote?

I also like to know why this Island was excepted, I'm sure they had a good reason for it?
I can understand that an Island that is so far away from the American mainland has to compete much more with surrounding Islands and even Australia than with America, so having a different minimum wage doesn't sounds that strange.

[Big War Bird]

How could they find out after the vote?
Didn't they read it?
Or was this exception made after the vote?

Rarely does a congressman read the bill he votes on. Those things are like bibles. Bills are largely written by lobbiest and then given to a congressman that wants to sponsor it.

I also like to know why this Island was excepted, I'm sure they had a good reason for it?

The stated reason is that Amer. Samoa is too poor to withstand its citizens getting paid more than twice their wage now. However similarly poor N. Marianas were subject to the hike. The obvious explanation is that Pelosi did a huge favor for her hometown company.

[Erik]

Rarely does a congressman read the bill he votes on. Those things are like bibles. Bills are largely written by lobbiest and then given to a congressman that wants to sponsor it.

Isn't that worrying?
Won't that make it very easy to slip in unwanted legislation?

And isn't it simply their job to study it thoroughly before casting their vote?
Or at least have somebody do the reading for them and inform them about they key issues.

Things go very differently in my country.
Here each party has teams that study proposals down to the last comma, then those teams inform the rest of the party.
This way nothing big gets missed.
They also discuss their findings between parties in parliament, so even if one party missed something they would almost certainly get informed by a different party in time for the vote.

Personally I think they have no right to complain once they signed the bill.
If they are unhappy they should have studies it better at forehand.

The stated reason is that Amer. Samoa is too poor to withstand its citizens getting paid more than twice their wage now. However similarly poor N. Marianas were subject to the hike.

Yes, that is strange.

The obvious explanation is that Pelosi did a huge favor for her hometown company.

Could be.
But that sounds more like corruption than hypocrisy to me.
(but then corruption is even worst)

[danzig]

Isn't that worrying?
Won't that make it very easy to slip in unwanted legislation?

And isn't it simply their job to study it thoroughly before casting their vote?
Or at least have somebody do the reading for them and inform them about they key issues.

The problem here is the stupidity on Pelosi's fault imo, Ill bet *anything* the exception wasnt missed or not read that they were WELL aware of it and ignored it simply to point out (and rightfully so) that Democrats are just as bad/hypocritical. It just goes to show the new speaker of the house can/will be just as obvious as Tom Daley was in their 'favors'.

But that sounds more like corruption than hypocrisy to me.
(but then corruption is even worst)

Well its both, the fact Democrats have screamed about this for years and then barely into new congress they are off to do the same exact thing.

[ForgottenImmortal]

Isn't that worrying?
Won't that make it very easy to slip in unwanted legislation?

And isn't it simply their job to study it thoroughly before casting their vote?
Or at least have somebody do the reading for them and inform them about they key issues.

Things go very differently in my country.
Here each party has teams that study proposals down to the last comma, then those teams inform the rest of the party.
This way nothing big gets missed.
They also discuss their findings between parties in parliament, so even if one party missed something they would almost certainly get informed by a different party in time for the vote.

Personally I think they have no right to complain once they signed the bill.
If they are unhappy they should have studies it better at forehand.

Also consider the size of the United States in comparison to the Netherlands, and the size of legislation and the number of it that comes before congress. The Netherlands is like a single state in the US and state legislators cover a lot less material than the national government.

[Erik]

Also consider the size of the United States in comparison to the Netherlands, and the size of legislation and the number of it that comes before congress. The Netherlands is like a single state in the US and state legislators cover a lot less material than the national government.

Why exactly would a minimum wage law be that more complex in a large country than in a small one?

And doesn't the federate structure allow your national government to reduce it's workload to things of national interest only?
Wasn't that the whole idea?

the fact Democrats have screamed about this for years and then barely into new congress they are off to do the same exact thing.

Yup, there really isn't much difference between the two parties.
In fact I've come to see them as one big "Republicrats" party with two wings.

That's why I always find it so funny when Americans defend "their party" and bash down "the other party".

[Last Roman]

Isn't that worrying?
Won't that make it very easy to slip in unwanted legislation?

it's done so often, we even have a name for it, a "rider"

[Big War Bird]

Beleive it our not I actually support Somoa not getting the hike. It is certainly possible that such a hike would make most of them unemployeed. I find it highly amusing that the Dems are admitting that a minimum wage hike hurts the very people they say that they are helping.

[MaximiIian]

The only democrats I really like are the ones from Louisville, my home. John Yarmuth is a good guy, he's not really even a politician; I mean, he actually wants to do something. And of course, the "Mayor For Life" himself, Jerry Abramson; he's done good things for Louisville, and has always been a good mayor for the city.
On the other hand, the party elite of the Democrats are a bunch of fencewalking dicks. The Democratic Party leaders have compromised too much with their adversaries; they've compromised thier values, compromised the issues, and compromised the trust of liberals everywhere, such as myself. The only Democrat politicians I feel that I can trust are local ones, those who know thier people well enough that they want to make a difference and change things for the better.

[RZZZA]

the fact is that lobbyists and corruption is there for whoever has power and influence. All the lobbyists simply shifted seats, just tiptoed across the aisle...thats all.

( I go by the general rule that 50% of everything any politician says is gonna be B.S., right off the bat. Whenever politicans talk of the war on drugs, poverty, corruption or if they mention anthing having to do with children, its B.S.)

[Lord Rahl]

Hmm...

Democrats: "We need more troops in Iraq!"

later...

Dems: "Don't let Bush send more of our daughters and sons to Iraq!"

and

Dems" "We need a minimum wage increase so everyone can have better lives!"

later...

Dems: "Ok...we're not so smart so we'll exempt our friends from the minimum wage increase!"

Oh, I hate libs...

[danzig]

Hmm...

Dont forget:
Dems: Bush admin refuses to admit its mistakes in Iraq

*Bush admits mistake in Iraq this week*

Dems: How can we trust a plan from a person who has made so many mistakes

Oh, I hate libs...

Well some republicans do it too hatred should be limited to the hypocrites on both sides rather then just one group

[Lord Rahl]

Dont forget:
Dems: Bush admin refuses to admit its mistakes in Iraq

*Bush admits mistake in Iraq this week*

Dems: How can we trust a plan from a person who has made so many mistakes



Well some republicans do it too hatred should be limited to the hypocrites on both sides rather then just one group

Oh, trust me. I hate idiots on both sides...it is just that most of the idiots seem to be involved in a certain party...:hmmm:

Maybe this is double posting, but these are over generalizations of the first class. Taking talking points from Ann Coulter is never wise.

I don't like Ann Coulter and I don't think many people could give a convincing argument that the Democrats flip flop, well, all the damn time. Hence, my over generalization.