Are The Beltway Democrats Serious About Raising The Minimum Wage This Time?

When the Democrats controlled the White House, the House and, briefly, the Senate, did they raise the minimum wage to the point where someone could call it a living wage? Not that I recall. But now that they know it's impossible to do because of an obstructionist Republican Congress-- and with the midterm election campaigns kicking off-- they're making a loud ruckus. If they wanted to do more than just create a campaign issue and deceive working families, they would crack the whip on Democrats who voted with the Republicans the last time a minimum wage vote came up March 15. The motion was defeated 233-184. Every single Republican voted against it, of course, always ready to show their hatred and disdain for working families on behalf of their wealthy patrons. But, despite the fuss Democrats are making this week over the issue, 6 Blue Dogs and New Dems, crossed the aisle and voted with Boehner and Cantor-- John Barrow (Blue Dog/New Dem-GA), Jim Matheson (Blue Dog-UT), Mike McIntyre (Blue Dog/New Dem-NC), Bill Owens (New Dem-NY), Collin Peterson (Blue Dog-MN) and Kurt Shrader (Blue Dog-New Dem-OR).

You might say that Pelosi and Hoyer can't hold their hands and make them vote with the Democrats-- and that would probably be true. BUT, Barrow, Matheson, McIntyre and Owens-- and possibly Schrader-- have ZERO chance of being reelected without massive financial assistance for the DCCC. If the Beltway Democrats were serious about raising the minimum wage, beating up Republicans might not be as effective as insisting their own conservative members tow the line on something this definitive.

George Miller (D-CA) is one Democrat who is serious about raising the minimum wage-- actually many congressional Democrats are-- the progressive wing of the party-- and as the Ranking Member of John Kline's horribly reactionary, anti-worker Education and Workforce Committee, Miller has been trying to do something about it.

By a ratio of four to one, Americans support raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and adjusting it for the cost of living in future years, according to a new poll released today. Conducted on behalf of the National Employment Law Project Action Fund, the poll also found that 75 percent of Americans think it important Congress raise the minimum wage over the next year. It was four years ago today that the federal minimum wage was last increased.

Rep. George Miller (D-Calif.) will join Rep. Donna Edwards (D-MD) and other congressional leaders, workers, business leaders, and advocates today at noon to announce the results of the poll and to call on Congress to pass the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010).

“The time has come for American workers to get a rFrom July 15 to 17, 2013, Hart Research Associates conducted a national survey on the issue of the federal minimum wage. Interviews were conducted online among a representative national sample of 1,010 adults (including 860 registered voters), with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points (and ±3.3 percentage points for voters).

By a ratio of four to one, Americans support raising the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour and adjusting it for the cost of living in future years.

Eight in ten adults (80%) approve of this minimum wage proposal, including 46% who strongly approve, and just 20% disapprove. Support is equally strong among registered voters (79%), and is well over 70% in every region of the country. Approval is voiced not only by Democrats (92%) and low-income adults (83%), but also by such traditionally conservative groups as Republicans (62%), southern whites (75%), and those with incomes over $100,000 (79%). We also find solid support for the $10.10 minimum wage among swing political constituencies, including independents (80%) and non-college whites (80%).

...Rep. Miller, the senior Democrat on the House Education and the Workforce Committee. “The American people understand that a decent minimum wage is not a handout. It’s about valuing work. It’s about growing the economy from the bottom up by increasing working families’ purchasing power.”

“The American people are clear; they want the minimum wage raised for workers and their families and it’s time Congress took action,” said Rep. Edwards. “We also need to increase wages for our tipped workers, who have seen their wages frozen at $2.13 since 1991. As a result, waitresses and waiters are suffering from declining living standards and experience poverty rates three times that of the general workforce. By raising both wages, we will grow our economy, and ensure that families no longer have to work two to three jobs to make ends meet. Let’s meet the American people where they are, and get this done.”

  “Four years without a raise is three years too many. While millions of workers have been without a raise, costs have continued to climb. Between 2009 and 2012, rent has gone up 4 percent, food is 8 percent more expensive, child care costs 9 percent more, and public transportation takes a 13 percent bigger bite out of workers’ wallets. We have to make sure that working families can keep up with the economy. Also, by increasing the minimum wage, we can give tens of millions of workers more money in their paychecks to spend at local businesses, increasing sales and boosting economic activity,” Sen. Harkin said.

“A new poll released today also shows broad, bipartisan support for my proposal with Congressman Miller to raise the minimum wage to $10.10,” Harkin added. “Eighty percent of Americans-- a strong majority of Democrats, independents, and Republicans alike-- support our bill. Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do and the responsible thing to do.”

Introduced by Rep. Miller and Sen. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) in March, the Fair Minimum Wage Act (H.R. 1010) will increase the minimum wage in three steps, from $7.25 to $10.10 per hour. The rate will then be indexed to inflation each year thereafter. In addition, the legislation will increase the required cash wage for tipped workers in annual 85 cent increases, from today’s $2.13 per hour until the tip credit reaches 70 percent of the regular minimum wage, which was originally proposed by Rep. Edwards.

It has been four years since minimum wage workers received a pay raise. And in this time, the recession has inflicted long-lasting economic damage to the living standards of workers living on the minimum wage. And since the last increase, the federal minimum wage has lost value. Adjusted for inflation, the minimum wage today buys less than it did in 1956. It has not kept up with the cost of living or workers’ increased productivity. More than 30 million workers will get a raise under this bill.

President Obama is also echoing the importance of increasing the minimum wage for working families at a speech today on growing and strengthening America’s middle class.

Donna Edwards is also the head of recruitment for the DCCC. I hope she's asking candidates who are requesting DCCC help if they'll commit to backing raising the minimum wage. There are quite a few conservative Dems Steve Israel is getting to run next year, people not unlike Barrow, McIntyre, Matheson, Peterson, Owens and Shrader.