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Louise Slaughter
Posted: Apr 9, 2011
That was then:
Lawmakers consider new curbs on incendiary speech
Shocked and saddened lawmakers grappled on Monday with the weekend shooting of one of their own, with some suggesting that new laws and regulations are needed to curb incendiary speech.
The aftermath of Saturday’s attack on Rep. Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.) brought a rare moment of unity on Capitol Hill, but it also escalated a contentious debate over violent imagery in the nation’s political discourse.
Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) was having a beer and eating pizza at a New Jersey bar when he heard the news via the television. Soon thereafter, he was contacted by his staff and was on the phone with other House members.
“It’s somewhat overwhelming. We are all flabbergasted, stunned,” he said.
While noting the obvious differences between the two events, Pascrell said Saturday reminds him of 9/11.
“I couldn’t believe I was really seeing this. This can’t be real,” he told The Hill in an interview Monday.
An emotional Pascrell added, “All of us at the bar prayed.”
Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) said he had just finished giving a speech when he learned of the assassination attempt.
“As soon as I stepped offstage, they told me,” Kingston said, noting he was with his family at the time. “There wasn’t much that we could do but pray.”
Several leading House Democrats blamed the inflammatory rhetoric for contributing to the Tucson massacre, while Republicans denounced criticism of former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (R) following the tragedy.
One lawmaker, Rep. Robert Brady (D-Pa.), has said he would introduce a bill to make it a crime to threaten or incite violence against a federal official.
Rep. Louise Slaughter (D-N.Y.) suggested the Federal Communications Commission was “not working anymore,” adding she would look at ways to better police language on the airwaves. A brick was thrown through a window of Slaughter’s district office last year.
Slaughter cited Palin’s use of gun sights to target Democrats in last year’s election and the assertion by Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle (R) that “Second Amendment remedies” might be needed to stop the Democratic agenda.
“There’s nothing else to surmise from that than that people should be shot,” Slaughter told reporters on a conference call. “I mean, it really is terrible.
“What I’d like to see is if we could all get together on both sides of the aisle, Democrats and Republicans, and really talk about what we can do to cool down the country,” Slaughter said. “Part of that has to be what they’re hearing over the airwaves.”
Rep. James Clyburn (S.C.), the third-ranking House Democrat, also referenced Angle’s “Second Amendment” statement from the campaign. “He saw a Second Amendment remedy and that’s what occurred here and there is no way not to make that connection,” Clyburn told the Charleston Post and Courier, referring to the alleged gunman, Jared Lee Loughner.
The Saturday shooting immediately put the legislative agenda of the new Republican majority on hold. GOP leaders postponed a vote on the healthcare repeal bill scheduled for Wednesday, along with all other legislation not related to the tragedy. Congressional leaders and staff gathered on the Capitol steps Monday for a moment of silence, and the House will approve a resolution honoring Giffords and the other victims on Wednesday.
Lawmakers said they expected the House to return to the repeal vote next week, but no schedule has been announced. “Further decisions on the legislative schedule will be announced at a later date, but this institution has an obligation to move forward in doing the business of the people at the appropriate time,” said Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.).
Democrats are already warning against a return to the divisive rhetoric of last year’s healthcare debate.
Rep. Chellie Pingree (D-Maine) urged Republicans to change the name of the repeal bill, which is titled the “Repeal the Job-Killing Healthcare Law Act.” “I’m not suggesting that the name of that one piece of legislation somehow led to the horror of this weekend — but is it really necessary to put the word ‘killing’ in the title of a major piece of legislation?” Pingree wrote on The Huffington Post website.
The GOP leadership declined an official comment, but a Republican aide said it “sounds like Congresswoman Pingree is trying to politicize the tragedy, and that’s a shame.”
Republicans pushed pack against the suggestion that their rhetoric had in any way contributed to the Tucson tragedy, and they pointed out that Democrats were just as guilty of relying on violent metaphors and imagery.
Rep. Tom Cole (Okla.), a former chairman of the National Republican Congressional Committee, blamed the media for pointing fingers at Palin and the Tea Party over their use of “targets” on Democrats.
“This attack on Sarah Palin is outrageous,” he said in an interview. “Give me a break. I’ve made my living in politics, and the word ‘targeting’ is not a new word in the political lexicon. That’s just something that is a normal term in how you are going to prioritize your political efforts.”
The Oklahoma Republican added, “I’ve never heard the Tea Party preaching violence; I’ve heard them preaching participation.”
Kingston said the Pima County sheriff, Clarence Dupnik, “got the ball rolling” by blaming the shooting on vitriolic speech. He pointed out that President Obama has used gun language in his speeches: “How [does] Sarah Palin get criticism and not President Obama for saying, ‘They’ll come after us with knives, we’ll come after them with guns?’ ”
Meanwhile, Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) released a statement Monday defending a campaign ad last year in his which he is shown shooting a bullet through the Democratic cap-and-trade bill.
“The act of a deranged madman who commits a horrific act should not and cannot be confused with a metaphor about a piece of legislation,” Manchin said. “I have never targeted an individual, and I never would.”
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/137141-stunned-lawmakers-struggle-for-answers
This is now:
New York Democratic Rep. Louise Slaughter told a crowd of pro-choice advocates on Wednesday that Republicans want to “kill women.”
Speaking at a rally in front of Congress, the congresswoman said, “This is probably one of the worst times that we’ve seen.”
The crowd was told that in 1994, the last time that a budget debate resulted in a government shutdown, the National Endowment for the Arts was targeted. Now, she said, women are.
“I went through this as co-chair of the Arts Caucus. In 1994, people were elected simply to come here to kill the National Endowment for the Arts, Slaughter said, “now they’re here to kill women.”
Slaughter added that the Republican proposal to strip Planned Parenthood of federal funding reminded her of the Nazi Party.
“You are allowed to have an abortion if you’ve been raped or it’s a matter of incest. However, you have to keep a receipt,” Slaughter said. “Did you know that? It’s sort of like an old German Nazi movement: show me your papers.”
;
Guess she forgot about her rant in January - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]As usual, some politicians forget very easily. No, let me change that to ALL politicians forget statements made too easily.
Since she is using that kind of language and we all know, or should know, defunding PP is not killing women, just defunding abortions that kills babies and against federal law to subsidize clinics that fund abortions, then she should be booted out next time around.
It's politicians like her that keep the hate going and it's time for it to stop.
Add Pelosi to that group - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]There is “a war on women,” House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi says, and it’s being led by her own colleagues on the other side of the aisle in Congress.
“There is actually a war on women,” the California Democrat said Thursday in Washington, taking aim at House Republicans’ efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and restrict access to abortions, among other measures.
“Abortion is one issue, but contraception and family planning and birth control are opposed by this crowd too,” the first female speaker of the House said of Republicans at the Feminist Majority Foundation’s Women, Money and Power Summit, CNN reported.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0411/52793.html#ixzz1J35d2nK3
Yes, and they keep forgetting to mention that - this "nonprofit" is
[ In Reply To ..]is recording RECORD profits. That's fine. Just proves that they don't need our tax dollars. They are making record profits. We are running a 14 trillion dollar deficit. Can we all say wasteful spending, pull the funding andmove on?? We certainly should, if we are being honest about tackling the deficit and wasteful spending. Nothing MORE wasteful than a government 14 trillion in the hole sending money to a nonprofit making record profits.
There is no reality where that makes ANY kind of sense.
Who is she? I don't think I've ever heard of her - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Oh, never mind. Some chick in a bar according to the article - Never mind
[ In Reply To ..]I didn't read that part. Sorry.
info - icedT
[ In Reply To ..]I'm sure this is more than you ever wanted to know about Congresswoman Slaughter, but this is from her house.gov site.
http://www.louise.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=39&Itemid=61
Congresswoman Louise McIntosh Slaughter is one of the most powerful and unique figures in the House of Representatives. In the 110th Congress, she became the first woman to serve as Chairwoman of the influential House Committee on Rules, a position that allowed her to influence nearly every single piece of legislation that comes to the House floor for a vote. She held that position from 2007 until 2011.
Congresswoman Slaughter is also a member of House Democratic Leadership and serves on the prestigious Democratic Steering & Policy Committee, which helps determine committee assignments. She is also the Democratic Chair of two congressional caucuses: the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus, of which she was a founding member.
Rep. Slaughter is beginning her thirteenth term in Congress as U.S. Representative for the 28th Congressional District of New York State. Her diverse district includes the cities of Rochester – where she lives – as well as Buffalo and Niagara Falls. Through her tireless work on behalf of the district, her constituents know her as a fighter for increased economic development across Western New York.
Over the years, Rep. Slaughter has earned a reputation for her dedication to constituent service while simultaneously being a strong progressive voice on a host of national issues, from the war in Afghanistan and global trade to government reform and genetics.
As the only microbiologist in Congress - with a master's degree in public health - Rep. Slaughter played a leading role in negotiating the health care reform legislation that was signed into law in 2010. She participated in nearly all the high-level conversations and attended the summit held by the President at the White House as the final bill was shaped. Rep. Slaughter consistently fought to make sure the bill was fully paid for and would not contribute to the deficit.
Rep. Slaughter has received broad support for her authorship of a bill that would preserve seven types of antibiotics from overuse by farm livestock. The PAMTA bill would prohibit farmers from excessively using these medications in the daily diet of cows, pigs and chickens. Her work on this bill has gained momentum in recent years, with a range of newspapers and advocacy groups around the country endorsing her efforts and agreeing with the science behind the legislation.
Rep. Slaughter is also considered the leading expert in Congress on genetics issues and her cutting-edge legislation to protect Americans from discrimination by health insurance providers and employers based on genetic makeup is now law. Rep. Slaughter's Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA) passed the House and the Senate and was signed into law by President Bush in May 2008. The bill has been called "the first civil rights legislation for the 21st century." In 1997, Rep. Slaughter was awarded the American Public Health Association Distinguished Public Health Legislator Award for her work on health and genetics issues.
A tireless promoter of economic development, Rep. Slaughter has emerged as the leading proponent in New York for federal investment in high speed rail. She was instrumental in winning federal grants for the first tier of rail investments across Western New York in 2010. She has also introduced legislation to study the effects of international trade agreements like NAFTA on American jobs. To help local employers, Rep. Slaughter regularly holds conferences to help businesses access capital and federal contracting opportunities.
Rep. Slaughter's fight to secure funding for local projects was recognized by the Rochester Institute of Technology, when it named its Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies facility, "The Louise M. Slaughter Building." Rep. Slaughter authored the Niagara Falls Heritage Act which passed in Congress by overwhelming majorities and was signed into law by President Bush. This law will help heighten national appreciation for the region, preserve its natural and historic resources, and expand the local economy. Rep. Slaughter has secured over $25 million for the development of the Rochester Harbor, in addition to millions of dollars for other economic development projects. In Buffalo and Niagara, she has brought in millions of dollars for community development projects at the Burchfield-Penney Art Center, Hauptman-Woodward Institute, CUBRC, Inc., the Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center, the Niagara Falls International Airport, Olcott Harbor, and the Village of Lyndonville in Orleans County, to name just a few.
When serving as a senior member of the Select Committee on Homeland Security, Rep. Slaughter fought to support first responders in Western New York and improve systems to deliver federal funding to local entities. She organized a major forum for local first responders and hosted a subcommittee hearing in Niagara Falls in 2003, where Members of Congress came to discuss border security.
Rep. Slaughter has also authored legislation to put in place a Northern Border Coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security in order to coordinate federal, state and local law enforcement and first responders. In addition, she worked on the SECURE Borders legislative proposal, which would provide $1 billion for security improvements such as enhancing border lines, doubling the number of Custom and Border Patrol agents.
As one of the leading advocates in Congress for women's rights, Rep. Slaughter is consistently engaged in legislation and advocacy on both a local and national level. She previously served as co-chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues in the 108th Congress, and continues to serve as co-chair of the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus.
Along with Vice President Joe Biden and others Slaughter co-authored the historic Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and wrote legislation to make permanent the Department of Justice's Violence Against Women Office. She is leading the fight against sexual assault in the military, and organized a hearing on the issue in March 2004 that garnered national attention. Rep. Slaughter authored an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill in FY05 to require the Pentagon to put in place comprehensive policies and procedures to deal with sexual assault in the military. In November 2004, she introduced landmark legislation to make further changes to end sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking in the military. She has continued to reintroduce this bill each Congress.
Rep. Slaughter has won historic increases in funding for women's health. As a member of the House Budget Committee in the early 1990s, she secured the first $500 million earmarked by Congress for breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She fought for legislation guaranteeing that women and minorities are included in all federal health trials and establishing an Office of Research on Women's Health (ORWH) at NIH and was later honored with its "Visionary for Women's Health Research" award, on the ORWH's tenth anniversary. She has also introduced a bill to direct NIH to fund up to six centers nationwide to focus on women's health and the environment, as well as a bill to increase research on the impact of hormone disruptors on women's health.
As longtime co-chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus, Rep. Slaughter leads the annual fight to increase budgets for the arts and humanities. In 2007, she successfully led the fight to increase funding for the National Endowments for the Arts from $124 million in FY07 to $144.7 million in FY08, a $20 million increase. Her efforts to generate congressional support for the arts have been recognized by a variety of arts organizations over the years. She has received awards for her commitment to the arts by Alliance of New York State Arts Organizations, the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Americans for the Arts, the American Symphony Orchestra, and the Eastman School of Music at the University of Rochester, among others.
During her tenure in Congress, Rep. Slaughter has won numerous awards for her leadership and dedication to public service. She was the first Member of Congress to receive the Sidney R. Yates National Arts Advocacy Award, presented by the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. In 2003 she was awarded the Humane Legislator of the Year by the American Humane Association. In January 1999, she was named "Lay Educator of the Year" by the Rochester Chapter of Phi Delta Kappa International, the professional fraternity for men and women in education. In 2004, Women in Film and Vision honored her with its Woman of Vision award for her work on women's and arts issues.
Rep. Slaughter, who was first elected to Congress in 1986, holds a Bachelor of Science degree (1951) in Microbiology and a Master of Science degree (1953) in Public Health from the University of Kentucky. Prior to entering Congress, she served in the New York State Assembly (1982-86) and the Monroe County (N.Y.) Legislature (1976-79); and as regional coordinator to then-Secretary of State Mario Cuomo (1976-78) and to then-Lt. Gov. Mario Cuomo (1979-82).
A native of Harlan County, Kentucky, Congresswoman Slaughter has lived most of her life in Rochester's suburb of Fairport. She is married to Robert Slaughter and has three daughters and seven grandchildren.
Here's some Wiki info on her too. You probably know this, but Wiki is not 100% reliable and shouldn't really be taken as fact all the time. Anyway, it's here if you want more info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louise_Slaughter
Early political career
Already involved in community groups like the Girl Scouts and the League of Women Voters, Slaughter became increasingly concerned with local political and community issues. She was involved in a local environmental group, the Perinton Greenlands Association, which promoted recycling and opposed development of Harts Woods. Slaughter decided to run for the Monroe County Legislature, winning on her third try. One and a half terms into her service on the County Legislature, she accepted an offer from then- New York Secretary of State Mario Cuomo to serve as his regional coordinator in the Rochester area. When Cuomo was elected lieutenant governor, Slaughter stayed on as his Rochester regional coordinator.
In 1982 local Democrats approached Louise with a desire to see her run for the State Assembly against the Republican incumbent Tom Hanna, whom she eventually defeated by a narrow margin. She was reelected by 10 points in 1984.
[edit] U.S. House of Representatives
[edit] Committee assignments
- Committee on Rules (Ranking Member)
- Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
Party leadership
- At-Large Whip
Caucus memberships
- Congressional Arts Caucus-Co-chair
- Congressional Bipartisan Pro-Choice Caucus-Co-chair
Slaughter serves on the Democratic Steering & Policy Committee. She is the Democratic Chair of the Congressional Arts Caucus and the Bipartisan Congressional Pro-Choice Caucus. Louise also serves as Co-Chair of the Future of American Media Caucus and is former Co-Chair of the Congressional Caucus for Women's Issues. After Martin Frost, the ranking member on the House Rules Committee, was defeated for reelection, Slaughter was appointed to this position, the first female member of Congress to serve in this post. After the 2006 elections, she became the first woman to chair this committee.
Slaughter is one of the most Progressive members of the New York congressional delegation from upstate New York, and in the 110th Congress (2007–2008), was the most Progressive member of the entire House of Representatives according to National Journal.[2] Indeed, among Congressmen from upstate, only fellow Democrat Maurice Hinchey has a lower lifetime rating from the American Conservative Union. She is one of several Democratic congressmen and senators who post at Daily Kos, a Democratic-oriented blog. She is also a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus.
In early 2005, she authored the Fairness and Accountability in Broadcasting Act, or FAB Act, which would reinstate the Fairness Doctrine, which has been criticized as an attempt to silence religious and conservative broadcasters.[3] Drawing on her experience as a microbiologist with a master’s degree in public health, Slaughter has authored legislation to protect Americans from discrimination by health insurance providers and employers based on genetic makeup. Slaughter co-authored the Violence Against Women Act in 1994 and wrote legislation to make permanent the Department of Justice’s Violence Against Women Office.
As a member of the House Budget Committee in the early 1990s, she secured the first $500 million earmarked by Congress for breast cancer research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). She fought for legislation guaranteeing that women and minorities are included in all federal health trials and establishing an Office of Research on Women’s Health (ORWH) at NIH. In addition, along with Senator Christopher Dodd, she introduced the Women's Progress Commemoration Act which established the Women's Progress Commemorative Commission in 1998.[4]
The Louise M. Slaughter Building on the RIT campus.
Slaughter’s efforts to secure funds for her district was recognized by the Rochester Institute of Technology, when it named its Center for Integrated Manufacturing Studies facility "The Louise M. Slaughter Building."
Rep. Slaughter became Chairwoman of the House Rules Committee during the 110th Congress, after the 2006 mid-term takeover of the House by the Democratic party.
Along with John Conyers, in April 2006 Slaughter brought an action against George W. Bush and others alleging violations of the Constitution in the passing of the Deficit Reduction Act of 2005.[5] The case (Conyers v. Bush) was ultimately dismissed.[6]
Slaughter declared that "the greatest thing she has done in her time in Congress" is passage of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act of 2008. She introduced and reintroduced this bill for 12.5 years, and could claim victory when the bill was signed into law on May 21, 2008.
In 2009, Slaughter introduced, and testified in support of, the Preservation of Antibiotics for Medical Treatment Act (PAMTA), which would limit the use of antibiotics in livestock feed, to counter the threat of antibiotic resistant bacteria.[7]
Slaughter was strongly critical of the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, which places limits on taxpayer-funding for elective abortions in the context of the November 2009 Affordable Health Care for America Act.
In March 2010, Slaughter proposed that a House rule be passed to expedite the passage of health care reform legislation. The rule allows the House to deem the Senate version of the health care reform bill "already passed" by the House without the House holding a recorded vote on the bill. Critics, who called the strategy the "Slaughter Solution", charged this proposed strategy was an affront to democratic principles and challenged its constitutionality.[8][9][10][11][12] Supporters observe that the courts have affirmed the rule's constitutionality, and that Republicans have used the rule repeatedly to pass major legislation such as the Patriot Act and the Tax Relief Reconciliation Act.[13][14][15]
On March 19, 2010, two days before the health care vote, a window in Slaughter's Niagara Falls office was broken with a brick[16]
someone? - icedT
[ In Reply To ..]This is just awful.
Can someone from the left please tell us that you don't condone this? If you do, I give you my word that I will call out ANY elected conservative congressman who needs a lesson in civility.
Maybe, just maybe, if we stick together (as ticked off moms), we can get these politicians - no matter WHAT their party affiliation - to stop this ugliness. If we realize it's a matter of respect and not a matter of right or left, we can let them know that we aren't going to tolerate this any longer. Baby steps.
Just my idea.
I agree, but if this board can't do it (remain - civil) I am thinking
[ In Reply To ..]it will be a rough row to hoe. But I agree, they should ALL be called out. Name calling and ridiculous exaggeration and fingerpointing don't help. We have a now 24 trillion dollar deficit and it needs to be addressed. I think Congress needs a timeout, sit in the corner, and a lecture from my mom wouldn't hurt if she was still here, God bless her.
Have a good evening!
Typo...14 trillion...not 24 trillion yet.... - thank God! nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Disgusting - Truthseeker
[ In Reply To ..]It is utterly horrifying that they want women who have been raped or victims of incest to jump through hoops!! How can any woman NOT condemn this!!!
http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/03/gop-bill-irs-abortion-audits
Under a GOP-backed bill expected to sail through the House of Representatives, the Internal Revenue Service would be forced to police how Americans have paid for their abortions. To ensure that taxpayers complied with the law, IRS agents would have to investigate whether certain terminated pregnancies were the result of rape or incest. And one tax expert says that the measure could even lead to questions on tax forms: Have you had an abortion? Did you keep your receipt?
I voted Republican - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I voted Republican
and all I lost was
My Job
My health care
My student loan
My unemployment
My grandma's Medicare
BUT
My millionaire Banker and Doctor
Both Got Tax Cuts
and my 15-year-old sister
had to drop out of school
to have her rapist's baby
(taken from a t-shirt I saw)
I can relate to that - nm
[ In Reply To ..]nm
Bingo - Truthseeker
[ In Reply To ..]But dont forget they also want to repeal child labor laws and have your sister work unlimited hours for less than minimum wage too!!
Oh yes! I had forgotten they want to lower minimum wages - and it does not stop there unfortunately
[ In Reply To ..]Well, they have worked hard to come up with all of that, you have to hand it to them.
It's not surprising that you keep posting - stuff like this...but it is
[ In Reply To ..]amusing that you go under the moniker Truthseeker when you are anything but.
But...please keep on keepin' on. Can't wait for the next bit of silliness.
Some time when you take time out from the talking points...please address the deficit. At least one Democrat should.
Truthseeker didn't post it; I did. She just added to it - and what she added is also correct
[ In Reply To ..]There are plans to lower the ages for children to work. I hope that one won't go anywhere. It would be a great idea for businesses who would make money on those children, but I hope our country doesn't go that direction. As someone said earlier, America is better than that.
The sky is falling, the sky is falling.... - SIGH.
[ In Reply To ..]You do realize that there is a ban on federal funding of abortion for other than rape or incest is illegal, right? I read the bill. On the Congress website. There is nothing there that says IRS agents will be forced to audit anything...however, they do have a criminal investigation unit that does criminal investigations regarding abortion...they have investigated PP. So you are saying now we should just enforce the federal laws we like?
Go read the bill. Nothing I could see about forcing IRS agents to do audits.
The comment about your tax forms is just silly. Do you see one on there that says did you use an illegal loophole? Do you see one that says have you reported all that under-the-table income you had from selling stuff on Ebay? Will you ever? NO.
Geezzzz. A 14-trillion dollar deficit and this is what you want to talk about.
Not TruthSeeker, but I have also read those plans - sm
[ In Reply To ..]I don't know if they will sail through or not. Hopefully there are people of conscience and good will who have the common sense to stop them.
Here's one where Republicans want to lower the minimum wage - Want lower minimum wages? Vote Republican
[ In Reply To ..]Republicans throughout the country have proved yet again they are not on the side of working class Americans by saying they want to lower or eliminate the federal minimum wage.
Democrats have been pouncing on their Republican challenger’s own words against the minimum wage, and with the help of Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele’s lack of knowledge on the minimum wage as well, more Democrats should press their opponents on the issue. On Tuesday night’s show of The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell, Steele was asked several times if he knew the minimum wage, but through his dodging around of the question, trying to change subject and actually giving two amounts that were both incorrect, it was clear he did not.
Congress passed the law in 2007 that made the federal minimum wage increase over time to today’s amount of $7.25 an hour or about $15,000 a year. Three of the four San Bernardino County Republican congressmen voted against raising it. The other Republican did not vote, and the lone Democrat for the county voted for it.
Sure Steele is not running for office, but as the chairman of the national Republican Party and being the spokesman for the Republicans as a whole, it goes to the larger problem of the GOP clearly being out of touch with what most Americans go through day to day and want – despite the party claiming they understand better than the Democrats. Republican candidates Joe Miller of Alaska, John Raese of West Virginia, Rand Paul of Kentucky and Linda McMahon of Connecticut have all called for reducing the minimum wage with Raese flat out saying it should be eliminated. If this is what the American people want then those candidates must not have gotten the memo showing most Americans actually want the minimum wage to increase.
Americans’ views
Democrats would have a winning campaign issue with this if they chose to press their challengers on it because the Public Religion Research Institute conducted a survey that showed two-thirds of Americans support raising the minimum wage to at least $10 an hour. The poll showed 67 percent of respondents, including 51 percent of Republicans, favored the increase; however, 50 percent of the people who identify themselves as belonging to the Tea Party oppose raising the minimum wage.
“This poll is yet another affirmation that maintaining a strong minimum wage is a core American value,” National Employment Law Project Director Christine Owens said in a statement. “Americans overwhelmingly support a minimum wage rate that will help working families make ends meet and provide the boost the economy needs for full recovery.”
In fact had the minimum wage, which began in the 1930s, kept pace with inflation, the National Employment Law Project said it would be more than $10 today.
According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics, 3.6 million workers had wages at or below the minimum wage in 2009, which accounts for 4.9 percent of all hourly-paid workers. The Labor Department also found Texas, West Virginia and Alabama had the highest proportion of hourly-paid workers earning at or below the Federal minimum wage while Oregon, Washington and California had the lowest proportion.
For most people, making $15,000 a year would be nowhere near enough to get by in this country. When people consider their own lives with groceries, gas for their cars, mortgage payments or rent, various bills and other expenses, bringing in slightly less than $300 a week would probably seem terrifying and stressful for them.
http://www.examiner.com/democrat-in-los-angeles/republicans-call-for-lowering-eliminating-federal-minimum-wage
Where and when did this come about? I haven't heard - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]or seen anything about it.
Sure, raising minimum wage would be great but it would also put us back on higher unemployment rolls. Don't forget, a lot of companies are small, family-owned, or just getting their companies off the ground. Some medium to large companies are paying that amount now, so it wouldn't make a difference to those employees.
If the minimum wage were increased to $10 an hour, how would those companies afford to pay employees PLUS health care when it kicks in?
The $10 an hour is quite a steep rise. I don't remember the minimum wage ever jumping a couple dollars at once. It usually only goes up it in $.25 increments, not dollars.
The Republicans want to lower it, not raise it. - nm
[ In Reply To ..]Nobody is talking about raising it. Some Republicans would like to lower it and are working to do that in their states.
I wa referring to the paragraph that said the Dems want to raise it to $10 and - Backwards Typist
[ In Reply To ..]that's crazy when the country is hurting so much (see my post above your answer). That's what I was talking about.
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The Slaughter SolutionMar 15, 2010
The House Health-Care Vote and the Constitution No bill can become law unless the exact same text is approved by a majority of both houses of CongressBy MICHAEL W. MCCONNELL Democratic congressional leaders have floated a plan to enact health-care reform by a procedure dubbed "the Slaughter solution." It is named not for the political carnage that it might inflict on their members, but for Rep. Louise Slaughter (D., N.Y.), chair of the powerful House Rules Committee, who proposed it. Under her p ...