Do the Wal Mart heirs really need another Mercedes?

[strandinthewind]

I mean I get that an increase in wages has an effect on prices and employment. But, at some level, the people making like $20 million + a year should take a hit so people can eat


Bid to increase minimum wage nixed

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Republican-controlled Senate refused Wednesday to raise the minimum wage, rejecting an election-year proposal from Democrats for the first increase in nearly a decade.

The vote was 52-46, eight short of the 60 needed.

"I don't think the Republicans get it," said Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, who backed a proposal for a three-step increase in the current wage floor to $7.25 an hour. The federal minimum wage has been fixed at $5.15 an hour since 1997.

Republican critics said the minimum wage was a job killer, not the boon to low-wage workers portrayed by Democrats.

"This is a classic debate between two different philosophies. One philosophy believes in the marketplace, competition and entrepreneurship, and the second is a philosophy that says government knows best," said Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Georgia. He said France and Germany have high minimum wages but also high unemployment.

But Kennedy and other advocates of an increase said minimum wage workers have been without a raise since 1997.

Underscoring the political context of the debate, he said if Democrats win the Senate this November, a minimum wage increase will be one of the first pieces of legislation to be considered.

Copyright 2006 Reuters. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Find this article at:
http://www.cnn.com/2006/POLITICS/06/...eut/index.html

[wondergirl9847]

I didn't realize it had been almost 10 years since the minimum wage had been raised!!! Sheebus! Republicans don't give a crap because their pockets are overflowing. Pfffttt.

[DrummerDeanna]

I'd like to challenge any of the Republicans who voted against this to work for just a week on $5.15 an hour. I bet it will be the hardest work they do in their lives - AND when it's paycheck time they'll literally weep at the pitance they get.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

Republican critics said the minimum wage was a job killer, not the boon to low-wage workers portrayed by Democrats.

What a f*ckin' joke. That line is so tired. Does anyone really believe that? Someone needs to turn that line around on them. Republicans: buying all the lowest paying jobs that money can buy.

[estranged4life]

last night was a story of how hard it will be for the 'political powers that be', that are here in Oklahoma, to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $6.15

Let's say it is best to not hold one's breath in this matter.

[irishgrl]

if Democrats win the Senate this November, a minimum wage increase will be one of the first pieces of legislation to be considered

YAY! a plank for the Party Platform! finally

[strandinthewind]

http://www.epinet.org/content.cfm/briefingpapers_bp150

This is a pretty good article about the effects that raising the minimum wage will have on the economy.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

minimum wage..

[irishgrl]

Originally Posted by Brwn_eyes0511

minimum wage..

tsk Brandon.

Jason! you're sounding more *gasp* LIBERAL all the time Keep up the good work, my friend

[David]

Originally Posted by strandinthewind

I mean I get that an increase in wages has an effect on prices and employment. But, at some level, the people making like $20 million + a year should take a hit so people can eat

There is so much politicking over this issue at this point that you find it next to impossible to locate genuine evidence to support one or the other hypothesis. I've heard small-business owners say that if they had to pay their minimum-wage employees more per hour, they wouldn't be able to afford it. I'm more inclined to believe the really tiny small-business owners being overcome by expenses like this than I would believe the big corporations, most of which waste a lot of money on "business" travel, perks, & fancy digs.

What really pisses me off at this point is when I hear the wealthy in business & social life support the government's dipping in to the Social Security pot, simply because they don't support the system in principle. I consider that whole system rather dysfunctional, too, & might even support its legitimate dismantling. But in the meantime, THE MONEY ISN'T THERE FOR YOUR OWN PET USES, wealthy people. The fact is that millions of us who don't have seven-figure salaries & who don't own real estate in Newport RI pay taxes out of every paycheck we make into that system, & we legitimately expect to get something back from that system when we hit that age. We don't have the retirement-age safety nets you have, & we also don't have the option of declining to participate in that system. If you want to dismantle the system through legitimate means, do so. But stop pulling money out of it for other things while it's still Social Security, you goddamn robber-barons.

[wondergirl9847]

I applied for a job doing the same thing I was doing before they laid us all off (with a week's warning) and sold the frickin' company to a Phillipino company. Anyway...they said that I would not be an employee, I'd be an independent contractor. So, I had to pay taxes on my own. Well, I was already not wanting to do that, because A. I SUCK at math so I'd probably be audited for screwing up and B. Too stressful for me (LOL). I checked into it at the IRS site and it said I would have to not only pay income tax, but as an independent contractor...I would pay a self-employment tax of 15%. WTH?! So, if you combine all the taxes, it would have probably taken close to half of my paycheck and I wouldn't have made THAT much to begin with.

Newp.

Now, I've applied for unemployment (which I have to pay taxes on...GAH, it never ends!) and am looking for a job half-heartedly. LOL Plus, I have to move my 401K over to an IRA.

I hate being a grown-up. Of course, I know I'm blessed, because I live at home, have no bills really and enjoy lots of freedom. I still hate being a grown-up.

[gldstwmn]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I applied for a job doing the same thing I was doing before they laid us all off (with a week's warning) and sold the frickin' company to a Phillipino company. Anyway...they said that I would not be an employee, I'd be an independent contractor. So, I had to pay taxes on my own. Well, I was already not wanting to do that, because A. I SUCK at math so I'd probably be audited for screwing up and B. Too stressful for me (LOL). I checked into it at the IRS site and it said I would have to not only pay income tax, but as an independent contractor...I would pay a self-employment tax of 15%. WTH?! So, if you combine all the taxes, it would have probably taken close to half of my paycheck and I wouldn't have made THAT much to begin with.

Newp.

Now, I've applied for unemployment (which I have to pay taxes on...GAH, it never ends!) and am looking for a job half-heartedly. LOL Plus, I have to move my 401K over to an IRA.

I hate being a grown-up. Of course, I know I'm blessed, because I live at home, have no bills really and enjoy lots of freedom. I still hate being a grown-up.

Christy, the self employment thing isn't so bad if you know how to work that system. I hate to put it that way. You might want to research it a little more and see what options are available to you. As a self employed, I don't think I could ever go back to a regular job.

[Brwn_eyes0511]

Originally Posted by irishgrl

tsk Brandon.

well, im just shocked that this is still an issue today.. ummm.. as far as i'm concerned the minimum wage should be done away with.

[chiliD]

Originally Posted by wondergirl9847

I applied for a job doing the same thing I was doing before they laid us all off (with a week's warning) and sold the frickin' company to a Phillipino company. Anyway...they said that I would not be an employee, I'd be an independent contractor. So, I had to pay taxes on my own.

I don't think that's legal. If you're doing work that is directly supervised by an employee of the company, you're by legal definition an employee. You could raise a big stink by reporting them to the proper authorities. It seems that they're just trying to circumvent the payroll tax laws.

[wondergirl9847]

It's working on the internet doing data entry. Does that make any difference? My last company took out taxes and 401K. I was considered a part-time employee, so no benefits.