The vote yesterday to shut down the Republican Party filibuster of the minimum wage bill ended badly, 54 in favor, 41 opposed (not counting Harry Reid who had to switch his vote to oppose so he can bring the bill up again later). It needed 60 votes to overcome the filibuster. Five votes shy. The only Republican to cross the aisle and vote with the Democrats was Bob Corker of Tennessee, meaning Susan Collins (R-ME), Mark Kirk (R-IL), Dean Heller (R-NV), Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Rob Portman (R-OH) weren't in the moderate mood yesterday or are perhaps never in the moderate mood on Wednesdays or between breakfast and lunch. The only anti-minimum wage increase Democrat, Arkansas conservative Mark Pryor, was smart enough to absent himself from the chamber and avoid voting, as did Thad Cochran (R-MS), who is faving a tight primary against a crazy teabagger.
And speaking of Susan Collins' non-moderate mood swing yesterday, her progressive, pro-family opponent, Shenna Bellows, was dismayed a Senator from Maine could vote against working families so blatantly. Angus King, he independent, actual moderate senator, voted YES, with the Democrats and Corker. This is the message she sent out to Mainers right after the disgraceful vote:
I am astounded that members of Congress who are paid $174,000 a year just told the American public that they thought $21,000 a year was too much money-- that hard-working Americans don’t deserve even that much.Up top, you can see Elizabeth Warren's remarks right after the vote. Does Shenna Bellows sound a little like her-- a lot like her? If you're willing and able, please consider contributing to Shenna's campaign to replace Collins in the Senate, which you can do right here. You'll also notice Rick Weiland of South Dakota on that page, another Democrat with a distinctly Elizabeth Warren tinge to his populism. Please consider chipping in for Rick as well. Here's how he explained what had happened to the voters in his state:
You see, I know what it's like to live in poverty. I grew up without electricity and running water, watching my parents scrimp and save and sacrifice each and every single day just to keep us going.Add your name to tell Republican Susan Collins that she voted the wrong way-- that hard-working Americans do deserve a raise.
Right now, 96,000 Mainers are earning less than $10.10 an hour. You only have to contrast the income statements of most members of Congress with those of most American families to realize that Congress truly does not represent the people.
Those 96,000 Mainers needed today’s bill to pass. They needed a raise.
We need a Congress that will stand up for working families. I pledge to you that unlike Republican Susan Collins, when I am a United States Senator, I will always fight for you.
Today's minimum wage vote was another win for the big money special interests who have taken over our government. At a time when CEO salaries are skyrocketing and our government is merrily spending hundreds of billion of dollars on subsidies for the very, very rich, the bridge for the rest of America to reach the middle class and a decent paying job is being blocked by a minimum wage stuck so insultingly low, it is hard to see how they can call it a 'wage' without laughing.All the Members of Congress know-- but only progressives care-- that the cost of food and childcare has increased, while the minimum wage is lower than it was in 1968 after calculating for inflation. It's a stain on the conscience of our nation and when we think about voting for Republicans we should keep this vote in mind. Raising the minimum wage would, first and foremost, help create a needed increase in economic activity, which allows businesses to grow and hire more people.
In South Dakota, contrary to the big money propaganda, the vast majority of minimum wage workers aren't teenagers flipping burgers. 78% of them are adults working full time to support their families. No one working full time should have to live in poverty-- period. Unfortunately, today's vote ensured that millions of Americans who are working themselves to the bone will continue to see their path to the middle class blocked.
Despite the clear benefits to tens of thousands of everyday South Dakotans, Mike Rounds opposes raising the minimum wage. This is just another example of Mike Rounds catering to big money special interests and choosing corporate profits over helping South Dakotans. Instead of helping tens of thousands of South Dakotans support their families, keep a roof over their heads, and clothes on the backs of their children, Mike Rounds is choosing to keep their wages laughably low as CEOs continue to line their pockets with million dollar bonuses.
Three hours after the filibuster held and the minimum wage increase was defeated by the GOP, President Obama spoke to the press in the East Room of the White House. He wasn't happy with the Republican obstruction. "By preventing even a vote on this bill," he declared, "they prevented a raise for 28 million hardworking Americans. They said no to helping millions work their way out of poverty-- and keep in mind, this bill would have done so without any new taxes, or spending, or bureaucracy. They told Americans like the ones who are here today that 'you’re on your own'-- without even looking them in the eye."
We know these Americans. We depend on them. The workers who’d benefit from a minimum wage increase often work full-time, often in physically demanding jobs. They average 35 years of age. Most low-paying jobs are held by women. But because Republicans in Congress said 'no' to even allowing a vote on the floor of the Senate, these folks are going to have to wait for the raise they deserve.Note: every single man and women on this list favors raising the minimum wage to $10.10 and hour and every one of them faces an opponent who does not. Can I be any clearer. Happy May Day!
Now the good news is outside of Washington folks aren’t waiting. While Republicans have been deciding whether to even allow a minimum wage bill to even come up for a vote, you’ve seen 10 states and the District of Columbia go ahead and raise theirs. Yesterday, the Hawaii legislature voted to raise their minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. Maryland did the same thing earlier this month.
...[A]bout three in four Americans support raising the minimum wage. And that’s because we believe that in the wealthiest nation on Earth, nobody who works full-time should ever have to raise a family in poverty. That’s a basic principle. And at a time when those at the top are doing better than ever, while millions of Americans are working harder and harder just to get by, that three out of four Americans understands that America deserves a raise.
This is a very simple issue. Either you’re in favor of raising wages for hardworking Americans, or you’re not. Either you want to grow the economy from the middle out and the bottom up so that prosperity is broad-based, or you think that top-down economics is the way to go.
Republicans in Congress have found the time to vote more than 50 times to undermine or repeal the health care bill for millions of working families. Earlier this month, they voted for a budget that would give the wealthiest Americans a massive tax cut while forcing deep cuts to investments that help middle-class families. But they won’t raise wages for millions of working families when three-quarters of Americans support it? That makes no sense. And on top of that, they’ve blocked our efforts to make sure women receive equal pay for equal work. They’ve stood in the way as we’ve fought to extend unemployment insurance for parents who need a little help supporting their families while they’re out looking for work. Republicans have failed to dismantle the Affordable Care Act, and they’ve increasingly failed to do anything when it comes to helping people who work hard get ahead.
If there’s any good news here, it’s that Republicans in Congress don’t get the last word on this or any issue-- you do, the American people, the voters. Change is happening, whether Republicans in Congress like it or not. And so my message to the American people is this: Do not get discouraged by a vote like the one we saw this morning. Get fired up. Get organized. Make your voices heard. And rest assured, I’m going to keep working with you and Leader Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress who are here today to raise wages for hardworking Americans. It’s the right thing to do.
