Poverty, Politics, and Priorities

Republicans and the minimum wage

Poor people once again become political pawns in an election year. Slaveowners manipulated poor whites to preserve slavery. And the beat goes on. It happens so often, I really shouldn’t be surprised. But I’m really furious about the Republican ploy of linking a minimum wage hike to a permanent cut in the estate tax.

House Republican leadership cooked up a witch’s brew of legislation and bottled it up for sale to the voters. It’s bitter swill for Democrats to swig. A vote against the bill will be twisted to depict Republicans as the good guys on minimum wage.

It is a brilliant move. After facing the political reality that the vast majority of the American people favor raising the minimum wage, they found a way to escape the heat and either get something they really wanted or sabotage its passage.

Most Democrats are furious. Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) expressed their outrage: "This is beyond cynical. This is disgraceful." Most Republicans are boastful. "I know why you're mad," said Rep. Zack Wamp (R-Tenn), You’ve seen us really out fox you." (Minimum Wage Hike Passed By House)

As for me, I am saddened.