Pelosi: Dems will pass $15 minimum wage if we take power
Source: Politico
By ELANA SCHOR 05/25/2017 01:54 PM EDT
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi on Thursday vowed to take up a $15 minimum wage in the first 100 hours of the next Congress if Democrats take back the chamber next year.
Pelosi offered the commitment while appearing alongside fellow Democratic leaders and advocates to release new legislation raising the minimum wage to $15. Her comments offer an early view at Democrats' potential agenda for the House if they can regain control in 2018, a long-shot prospect that some in the party think could grow increasingly more realistic given President Donald Trump and the GOP's recent struggles.
If "we win the election," Pelosi told the gathered audience, "in the first 100 hours we will pass a $15 minimum wage."
The California Democrat conspicuously harkened to 2007, when her caucus raised the minimum wage to its current level of $7.25 as part of an ambitious campaign for its first 100 hours in power. That 10-year-old agenda also included lowering the interest rate on student loans and allowing the government to negotiate drug prices under Medicare.
Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2017/05/25/democrats-2018-agenda-minimum-wage-increase-238828
Justice
(7,182 posts)bucolic_frolic
(42,663 posts)Peddle to the metal now that the GOP is in full disarray over AHCA
The tide has turned
IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)and install Pelosi as president
INdemo
(6,994 posts)and Pence ..he may decide to resign too if he faces criminal charges.
IronLionZion
(45,256 posts)Pence wants it
JudyM
(29,122 posts)Hortensis
(58,785 posts)In simple terms people understand at a gut level.
NobodyHere
(2,810 posts)David__77
(23,214 posts)...
athena
(4,187 posts)Indexing the current number to inflation would not do much good. Making $15 a reality is a bigger priority right now.
Just passing it and forcing Trump (who thinks minimum wage should be 0) to veto the minimum wage hike will have huge implications for 2020 and beyond in terms of elections. It's proven to GOTV for Democrats.
PoliticAverse
(26,366 posts)Voltaire2
(12,618 posts)For example the social security income level thresholds for retirees were set back in the early 80's and have never changed since then. The government and the private sector should not be allowed to inflate their way out of their obligations.
Volaris
(10,260 posts)As a related aside, I need someone to tell me I'm crazy for thinking that a universal federal re-valuation tax is a good idea...I'll gladly fork over an extra 1 or 2 % on the condition that the Treasury just sticks it in the shredder on the idea that if there's less actual currency, what's left is worth more. Small amounts, over the long term, could begin the process of revalueing the Dollar vs inflation, and leave it there until 15/hour actually means what it says, and THEN you can flex the min wage to the rate of inflation so it's always relatively the same amount of spending power.
I would take a 10$/hr min, and trade the rest off to pay for Single-payer and federal rent caps tied to income. It's not totally about how much is on my check, it's about what I need to pay for with those funds...just sayin=)
c-rational
(2,581 posts)Chemisse
(30,793 posts)Not just focus on the horrors that the Republicans will do.
We need to stand strongly for ideals that are important to regular Americans.
vkkv
(3,384 posts)I will NEVER FORGET that Nancy Pelosi said that the "impeachment of G.W. Bush is off the table" !!!
I'm from Calif., used to vote for here when I lived in SF for 12 years.
ashtonelijah
(340 posts)Thrill
(19,178 posts)House members
colsohlibgal
(5,275 posts)I think we need to push for a National base income. Enough to provide basic life essentials for every adult. Then if you want more then here should be decent paying jobs here.
benpollard
(197 posts)Democrats never learn. Voters care about the economy and security, foremost. It's only poor people who care about the minimum wage, and they often don't vote. Conservatives don't want the minimum wage raised.
Here's an idea... Wait until you get control of Congress before you talk about raising the minimum wage. Jeeze.
JCanete
(5,272 posts)have to spend locally directly impacts other wage rates, so infusing people at the bottom with more money to put back into the economy is healthy. Other employers will have to raise wages to entice people to work for them. This isn't a hard argument to make. We just have to make it.
ashtonelijah
(340 posts)But in Mississippi, the value of a dollar is $115, compared to $88 in CA and $86 in NY. I think $12 wouldn't hurt too bad in MS, but I'm afraid that in states like mine where the value of a dollar is worth $25-$30 more than in NY or CA, job losses and small business closures would outpace the gains of $15.
It definitely needs to be above $10, and I like the idea of $12. But based on the data I've read, $12 is the sweet spot, and going higher than $12 risks significant job losses. If we are going to more than double the minimum wage, it has to be done in a smart way that doesn't hurt the very people it's meant to help, or else it's as useless as Trump's "Everybody will be covered!"
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)If preliminary effects show job losses, it can be kept at $12.
mdbl
(4,972 posts)since a complete job may not happen with the repuglican liars running the congress right now.
rocktivity
(44,555 posts)rocktivity
Guilded Lilly
(5,591 posts)In focusing on the Democrat's agenda now, that will benefit all the millions who are being threatened by the Cretin's anti humanity platform is a solid beginning.
RESIST. PERSIST ...and accentuate the POSITIVE
SunSeeker
(51,367 posts)She is the most competent Speaker in my lifetime. She knows how to get her caucus on board and get legislation passed. All she needs is a bare majority.