Last Monday morning RAISE Oklahoma supporters rallied at the state capitol then took to the marble halls to convince legislators of what Oklahomans already know....the right thing to do is to increase the minimum wage. Linda Murphy and Chris Heldenbrand have been the leaders in this effort and are to be complimented for their efforts. Special thanks also to Rep. Richard Morrissette, Rep. Jari Askins, Senator Debbe Leftwich and Senator Cal Hobson for supporting these efforts to raise minimum wage.
At the same time Senate Democrats in Washington tried to raise the federal minimum wage, which stands at just $5.15 an hour. It has not been increased in nearly a decade, and at its current stingy level, the rate flies in the face of Americans' belief that those who work hard and play by the rules will be rewarded.
A minimum-wage worker earns just $10,700 a year, nearly $6,000 below the poverty line for a family of three. Americans across the political spectrum strongly support the minimum wage, and believe it should be significantly higher.
A recent poll by the nonpartisan Pew Research Center found that 83 percent of Americans favored increasing the minimum wage by $2.
If you have not yet signed the RAISE Oklahoma petition please call them today and offer your support for those who work hard and play by the rules. The number is 524-0522. Visit them at RAISE Oklahoma.
2 comments:
Lisa, I think that the Raise Oklahoma petitions need to be turned in today.
As we here in Oklahoma work to increase the minimum wage, please note that our federal legislators are grappling with the same issue. In the Senate, both Coburn and Istook voted against an increase in the minimum wage:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=2&vote=00179
The U.S. House is not voting on a minimum wage increase it because it has been held up in committee by the Republican leadership.
But meanwhile, these folks do want their annual pay raise of 2.2%, or about $3,400.
The house vote on a motion by a Representative from Utah to require and up-or-down vote to accept the pay raise was defeated.
That motion was defeated with Cole (R), Istook (R), Lucas (R), and Sullivan (R) in effect voting for their pay raise, and Boren (D)voting against it.
The Senate will vote on the larger bill, the 2006 Transportation and Treasury Department Appropriations bill has yet to be taken.
The house vote tally can be found at: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2006/roll261.xml
Now, I’m not against a Congressional pay raise as all workers should get them in times of increasing inflation.
But the minimum pay rate has not been increased since 1997, but in that time a Senator’s or Congressman’s pay has increase 26%.
Seems like more YOYO (you are on your own) economics from the Republcans.
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