New Democratic Congress Increases Minimum Wage for Nebraska’s Working Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 11, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
New Democratic Congress Increases Minimum Wage for Nebraska’s Working Families
All Three Members of Nebraska’s House Delegation Voted Against the Historic Legislation, Turning Their Backs on Thousands of Nebraskans
LINCOLN, Neb. – Yesterday, Democrats in Congress did what Republicans refused to do for ten years, voting to give workers an increase in the federal minimum wage, raising it from $5.15 to $7.25. Nearly 13 million workers will benefit from an increase in the minimum wage and 89 percent of Americans support its increase, including 72 percent of Republicans. [EPI] [Newsweek poll, 11/11/06] Here in Nebraska, nearly 136,000 workers would benefit from a minimum wage increase. [CBPP, 8/2/06]
Nebraska’s entire Republican Congressional delegation voted against the bill and failed to join the overwhelming bipartisan support for it, which passed by a vote of 315 to 116. 82 Republicans voted for the bill.
“Raising the minimum wage is not just sound policy it’s a sign of our values,” said Steve Achelpohl, State Chair of the Nebraska Democratic Party. “Everyday Nebraskans work hard and play by the rules to provide a good living for their families but they are still living in poverty. This past election people went to the polls and voted for change in both domestic and foreign policy. Democrats are acting swiftly to fulfill our promise to restore America to a country that works for everyone. Passing the minimum wage increase is a critical first step in that goal. We hope that President Bush supports this legislation that will provide millions of Americans the long-awaited increase in wages they deserve.”