Emanuel: GOP uses tax credit as tool against poor

[wyldwolf]

Early in his State of the Union address last month, President Bush said something we agree with: "Our citizens don't much care which side of the aisle we sit on--as long as we're willing to cross that aisle when there is work to be done." Yet just two days later, Senate Republicans led a filibuster to block the minimum wage increase that had sailed through the House the week before. When it comes to rewarding work, the president's party seems more interested in crossing the street to get away than in crossing the aisle to get it done.

The case for raising the minimum wage for the first time in a decade is simple and straightforward. The current minimum wage has lost 20 percent of its purchasing power since the last increase in 1997--and in real terms, is at its lowest point in more than half a century. Meanwhile, the number of Americans living in poverty--which declined by 7 million under the Clinton administration--has risen by more than 5 million under Bush.

Over the last decade, a Republican Congress voted itself $31,000 in pay raises, without a single raise in the minimum wage. Republicans said the minimum wage was a job killer. By voting the Republicans out of power this past November, the American people found a way to prove them right.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-0702140029feb14,1,7741090.story?coll=chi-opinionfront-hed

[LoZoccolo]

1. Recommended; glad to have him as my rep, too. n/t

[SaveElmer]

2. We need more like Emanuel...

One of the few Democrats that can effectively stick it to the Republicans. He's the George Patton of the Democratic Party...a bit rough around the edges...but always gains ground...

[AtomicKitten]

3. That's as much a slap in the face as the health care savings account.

Glad to give you your fifth recommend.