posted January 11, 2007 03:48 PM              

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Democratic-controlled House voted Wednesday to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, bringing America's lowest-paid workers a crucial step closer to their first raise in a decade.

The vote was 315-116, with 82 Republicans joining Democrats to pass it.

"You should not be relegated to poverty if you work hard and play by the rules," said House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Maryland. (Watch how the lowest earners will get their raises Video)

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/01/10/minimum.wage.ap/index.html

posted January 11, 2007 05:42 PM              

That's the main point.

posted January 11, 2007 09:04 PM              

I honestly don't know how they even expected people to live comfortably with such high prices and such low minimum wage.

posted January 12, 2007 11:28 AM            

Seems some...and those some work for corporations headquartered in the very city the new mom of working people represents..San Francisco, are NOT going to be covered because the new mom, Nancy Pelosi exempted certain employers from paying their employees...the new minimum wage.

Now, Pelosi's blah, blah, blah includes wording to the effect those exempted employers did not blah, blah, blah with her to get themselves exempted.

Apparently Nancy Pelosi arrived at the decision independently that those companies employees didn't need to make the new minimum wage...blah, blah, blah to make it in America and the fact one or both of those companies have their corporate offices in San Francisco had nothing what so ever to do with her decision..blah, blah, blah.

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.
http://washingtontimes.com/national/20070112-120720-2734r.htm

posted January 12, 2007 03:19 PM              

Jesus, I forgot it even existed. Maybe we should stop being so damn land hungry so we won't forget all the other islands we've conquered.

posted January 12, 2007 04:41 PM            

quote:

---

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.

---

Yeah cuz obviously they really care about American Samoa.

posted January 12, 2007 05:18 PM            

How about that for coincidence?

Here's another coincidence.

There was already a waiver of minimum wage in effect for employees on American Samoa, the large part of whom work for that very same San Francisco headquartered corporation.

Actual wages on American Samoa...because of the existing waiver of the minimum wage laws...has been $3 and change an hour and that's what the corporation located in Pelosi's district has been paying.

Under Pelosi's wing, that corporation will be able to keep paying them $3 and change..an hour because Pelosi exempted them from the requirements of the "new minimum wage law".

Again, how's that for "coincidence"?

The name of that corporation is StarKist Tuna...which is a division of Del Monte.

Another interesting tidbit....coincidence?

posted January 12, 2007 05:28 PM            

The people of American Samoa think they ratified a Constitution at a Constitutional Convention in 1966..of, by and for the people of American Samoa.

Of course, how could you possibly be expected to know that...or much of anything else?

posted January 12, 2007 05:33 PM              

Republicans are usually racist red necks.