ODP Media Release

Minimum Wage Bill Stalled: Democrats Remain Committed to Issue and Oklahoma Families

Oklahoma Democrats remain committed to raising the minimum wage in Oklahoma, in spite of Republican heel-dragging and posturing this week at the State Capitol, where the minimum wage was tabled in committee.

Democratic Party Chairman Lisa Pryor said, "Democrats value the working men and women of our state and know that they deserve more. It is near impossible for a family to live on the current minimum wage. Oklahomans deserve more. As Democrats, we know protecting the interest and health of our community depends on families being able to provide the basic necessities of life."


She said the decision to table the minimum wage bill was disheartening, but Democrats are not giving up on the seeing the legislation through this session. The votes for minimum wage in committee just weren't there with Republicans poised to vote against it

"We are committed to building a better place to work and live not just for today's voters, but for future generations of Oklahomans," Pryor. "A minimum wage increase is a critical step in ensuring that future."

An average CEO earns more before lunchtime in one day than a minimum wager worker earns all year.

"We can make our economy fair by raising minimum wage," Pryor said. "There is overwhelming public support behind this because it is the right thing to do for Oklahomans. We are long over due to raise wages for our working families. Every day families work hard and play by the rules to earn a good living, but still they struggle. It is wrong to have thousands of families working full-time, year-round and still be living in poverty."

The Democratic-led U.S. House voted 315 to 116 to raise the federal minimum wage in January.

Oklahoma City, OK- Feb. 23, 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Jason McCarty, 405.427.3366