Representative DeGette (D-CO) Pushes For A Fair Minimum Wage

Representative DeGette (D-CO) Pushes For A Fair Minimum Wage

- Republicans Block Minimum Wage Vote, Wage at Lowest Point in 50 Years -

Representative Diana DeGette (D-CO) joins her Democratic colleagues in asking the Republican leadership to allow a vote to raise the minimum wage for the first time in almost a decade.

"I've been in Congress for ten years and it seems like every year the Republicans can find time to give the wealthiest Americans a tax cut," said Rep. DeGette. "Yet when it comes to helping American families by raising the minimum wage, they can only find excuses not to. It's time to raise the minimum wage."

Last week, House Democrats successfully attached an amendment to the FY07 Labor, Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill that would gradually increase the minimum wage for the first time since 1997 from $5.15 to $7.25 over two years. Despite bipartisan support, the Republican leadership has blocked voting on the bill this week fearing it would pass with the amendment intact.

"This is just further indication of how out of touch Republicans are with American values," said Representative DeGette. "This bill would help millions of Americans who are living in poverty, yet the Republican leadership would rather talk about Flag Burning. They should be ashamed."

A person earning minimum wage who works full-time all year earns just $10,700, leaving them well below the poverty line. 7.3 million Americans would benefit from a raise in the minimum wage, including 1.8 million parents with children. Nearly three-quarters of minimum wage workers are adults over the age of 20, and many are responsible for over half of their family's income.

"Its not every day that Congress has the chance to help millions of Americans, but raising the minimum wage would do just that,' said Rep. DeGette. "The Republican leadership must allow this Congress to raise the minimum."

http://www.house.gov/apps/list/press/co01_degette/wage.html