CNN: Clinton announces new minimum wage bill one day after Edwards challenge

[DeepModem Mom]

CNN: December 20, 2007
Clinton announces new bill one day after Edwards challenge

WASHINGTON (CNN) — Just one day after a challenge from presidential rival John Edwards to commit to raising the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, New York Sen. Hillary Clinton announced that she had already introduced legislation to do just that. “With stagnant wages and skyrocketing costs for healthcare, energy and college, working families in America need a break. That is why yesterday I introduced legislation to raise the minimum wage to $9.50 by 2011, and link the minimum wage to Congressional pay raises after that,” said Clinton in a Thursday statement. The senator said the measure was “the first bill ever to call for a $9.50 minimum wage.”

In her statement, Clinton said the new legislation had been introduced Wednesday, although her campaign did not release that information until late Thursday. Clinton and Edwards have spent the past few days in a verbal tug-of-war over their respective anti-poverty credentials. At a New Hampshire campaign stop Wednesday, Edwards reacted angrily to comments that he said questioned his commitment to ending poverty.

"She said something about ‘People are talking about poverty, but, you know, what are we going to do about it?’" characterizing the remarks as a “veiled reference” to him. "Let me just be clear," said Edwards. "Ending poverty in this country is the cause of my life, and I am completely committed to it." He then called on Clinton and other White House hopefuls to commit to raising the minimum wage to $9.50 an hour, and to come up with their own comprehensive plan to end poverty.

In an interview with CNN's Suzanne Malveaux Thursday afternoon, Edwards again called on Clinton and the rest of his Democratic rivals to come out in favor of the $9.50 figure. Clinton's statement was released shortly after his appearance.

http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/12/20/clinton-announces-new-bill-one-day-after-edwards-challenge/

[OHdem10]

1. This is the beauty of Edward's Candidacy. He influences

the others. As the real Democrat in the race, this is good.

[papau]

2. As usual MSM does no research - Clinton introduced link to Congressional pay increases 4/20/06

April 20, 2006

Senator Clinton Announces Legislation To Link Congressional Pay Raises With Increase In The Federal Minimum Wage

Washington, DC – Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton announced today that she will introduce legislation when Congress returns to link Congressional pay increases to increases in the federal minimum wage. In addition to gradually raising the federal minimum wage, the bill would also require the federal minimum wage to be increased by the same percentage amount as Congressional salaries every year.

Obama said he wanted $9.50 min wage on 11/30/07 but failed to introduce a bill to accomplish moving the rate up to $9.50. http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/30/us/politics/30obama.html?_r=1&ref=politics&oref=slogin

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

4. Te speciffic $9.50 figure is probably what's at issue

[papau]

6. At least she introduced the bill - In Mass we wanted 12.00 "fair urban wages" - City of

Cambridge did end up with a good number but I forget how high it was and who it applied to.

[annie1]

3. intresting, i didn't realize she had introduced legislation on it already...

ok, that's cool. Good for edwards. he rules. i can't wait to see what he does after this race is over if he loses. i think he'll do a lot.

[CTyankee]

5. Indexing the minimum wage to inflation is the way to go, so we don't have these

horrible divisive battles that break out. The minimum wage increase should not just erode over time because we don't do a damn thing about it regularly. We simply MUST index it and have it happen automatically.

Saves time and nerves, all around...

[Infinite Hope]

7. Tying minimum wage to congressional pay is irresponsible/inflationary...

if anything, it should be the reverse - tie congressional pay to minimum wage.

[cali]

8. that makes no sense as it would never happen. and what's irresponsible

about tying it to congressional pay?

[Infinite Hope]

9. See previous post.

Also research - it's been well-established in past minimum wage/economic discussions. Beyond that, a little thought/common sense would go a long way to establishing a logical explanation. I believe in your ability to do so.