Dems Must Stay Firm in Minimum Wage FightRandy Shawbyline‚ Jan. 26‚ 2007The same Senate Republicans who passed tax breaks for billionaires with record speed are now threatening a filibuster to prevent an increase in the federal minimum wage. On Wednesday, only 54 Senators voted to cut off debate over the long overdue minimum wage hike, six short of the 60 votes needed. Nearly all Republican Senators are opposing the stand-alone bill, joining President Bush in assuming that they can force Democrats to link the wage hike to new tax breaks for business. Democrats can agree to the tax breaks to ensure the paltry $5.15 minimum wage is increased, or draw a line in the sand and let Americans know that Republicans are to blame for holding up passage. In light of how President Clinton and fellow Democrats allowed the last minimum wage hike in 1996 to be linked to a bevy of special interest tax cuts, Democrats must learn from this mistake and stay firm. |