Governor Doyle Calls on Congress to Follow Wisconsin's Lead and Raise the Federal Minimum Wage

Governor Doyle Calls on Congress to Follow Wisconsin's Lead and Raise the Federal Minimum Wage

Congressman Green Has Voted Against Raising the Minimum Wage Eight Times

LA CROSSE - At the AFL-CIO Biennial Conference in La Crosse today, Governor Jim Doyle called on Congress to follow Wisconsin's lead and raise the federal minimum wage for hardworking families.

In 2004, Governor Doyle brought together business and labor leaders to achieve a minimum wage increase for Wisconsin workers. Starting in June 2005, the minimum wage in Wisconsin has gone up twice. The state minimum wage is now $1.35 more than the federal minimum wage. [Governor Doyle Press Release, 5/31/06]

"After eight long years of inaction in Washington and Madison, we raised the state's minimum wage twice," Governor Doyle said. "We brought together business and labor leaders to get this done, and they overwhelmingly supported giving our lowest wage workers a raise. The only no votes came from Republican politicians - who had raised their own pay more than $6,000 in that time." [Legislative Reference Bureau]

In Washington, Congressman Mark Green voted against an increase in the federal minimum wage eight times, despite Congressional salaries being raised $28,500 during his time in Congress. [HR2389, Vote 382, 7/19/06; HR2990, Vote 364, 7/12/06; S250, Vote 366, 7/12/06; HCR440, Vote 353, 6/29/06; HR5672, Vote 319, 6/27/06; HR 5638, Vote 313, 6/22/06; HR5638, Vote 308, 6/22/06; HR3846, Vote 43, 3/9/2000; CRS Report, http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf]

"Eight times Congressman Green had an opportunity to help real, hardworking people," Governor Doyle said. "And eight times, he said no. That's wrong."

Congressman Green has been quoted saying the minimum wage is "an irrelevant wage," suggesting that not many people would be helped. In reality, 124,000 people in Wisconsin alone would have benefited from the minimum wage increase he voted against. [Sources: Green Bay Press-Gazette, 12/12/99; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/8-2-06tax3.htm]

Recently, the Republican Congressional leadership tried to give themselves some cover by staging a vote that was tied to billions in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans. The Appleton Post Crescent [Appleton Post Crescent, 8/2/06] With this vote, Congress said that working people could get a raise, only after the super rich have gotten a huge tax subsidy. appropriately called it a "cynical ploy."

"Congress is scheduled to adjourn in about a week - but still has taken no action to raise the federal minimum wage," Governor Doyle said. "But it's not too late. Today, I'm calling on Congress to do what we've done twice in Wisconsin - raise the minimum wage. Let's help lift millions of American families out of poverty, and give them an honest day's wage for an honest day's work. I urge the Republican Congress to finally do the right thing - the fair thing - and give workers across this country a raise."

http://www.doylelawton.com/content/view/398/35/