Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2014 (Tabled)

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Funny how restraint is always raised by our moderate friends when it comes to helping workers, but never when the issue is handouts for corporations or the military.

This bill will ensure that the minimum wage remains a living wage. As to the concerns of inflation voiced by Polnut and Cranberry, the Atlasian minimum wage already adjusts with inflation. This will allow it to increase beyond the inflation rate, assuming that the wage adjustment only allows wages to remain equal to what they were before. In effect, this is a wage increase.

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I am serious about every bit of legislation that I introduce. At the very least, the workers of this country deserve raises that go beyond inflation. Their labor is, after all, the source of profit in the first place.

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So what happens when the cost of a loaf of bread is ten dollars because we keep spiraling things up and up and up?

Then we seize bread production, turn it over to the workers, and do the same with the rest of industry.

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I'd rather not shower employers with tax credits, frankly. Either we raise the wage or we don't. Tax schemes like the EITC promote low-wage employment.

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I have no problem with internal hierarchies, provided that those are chosen by democratic vote, rather than capitalist fiat, Hagrid. I'm not an anarchist.

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A good revolutionary never misses an opportunity for agitation, Cranberry.

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Then what suggestions do you have as to amending this bill, Senator? I'm willing to entertain them.

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At the very least, we can all agree on a small increase, no? $15 an hour is reasonable by any measure, and it has widespread public support.

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That clause was repealed.

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What is more ridiculous is this idea that less than $20 an hour is a living wage.

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Taking on Cranberry's idea, would the Senate be interested in tabling this (or could a Senator motion to table?) seeing that Yankee's approach could be far more effective and realistic?

Ah, so now you're interesting in "realism" rather than just scoring cheap political points?

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Says the lameduck who refuses to yield to public opinion on an issue.

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Says the lameduck who refuses to yield to public opinion on an issue.

To be fair, just because the public want something is not sufficient justification to do it. I support increasing the purchasing power and quality of life of those earning the minimum wage. But we do need to be incredibly wary of the impacts of a delicate inflationary situation.

To clarify, what is the current status when it comes to the Federal minimum wage? 

The minimum wage is currently $12.50 per hour, with regional variation.

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Nay

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I am willing to withdraw this, provided that the other proposal guarantees $15 an hour.

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I motion that we table this bill, given that the other bill does effectively the same thing now.