Senate Republicans Block Minimum Wage Hike for Nebraska’s Working Families
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 2007
Contact: Eric Fought
(402) 434-2184
eric@nebraskademocrats.org
Senate Republicans Block Minimum Wage Hike for Nebraska’s Working Families
LINCOLN, Neb. – Today, Republican Senator Chuck Hagel voted to block the Democratic plan to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, a plan that would have given a much needed pay raise to 136,000 Nebraskans. [CBPP, 8/2/06]
As part of its first 100 hours agenda, House Democrats voted to increase the minimum wage for the first time in more than nine years – the longest period in the history of the law. During that time, Members of Congress have received a $31,600 pay raise, while the real value of the minimum wage has plummeted to its lowest level in 51 years. [Economic Policy Institute, 6/06]
Despite the fact that nearly 13 million American workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage and 89 percent of Americans support its increase, including 72 percent of Republicans, Hagel joined the rest of the Bush Republicans in the Senate in putting their special interest friends ahead of the American people by blocking a minimum wage hike. [EPI] [Newsweek poll, 11/11/06]
“It is deeply disappointing that Senator Hagel ignored the will of the American people and even President Bush’s own call for bipartisanship last night by rejecting a minimum wage hike for thousands of Nebraskans,” said Matt Connealy, Executive Director of the Nebraska Democratic Party.
“Too many of our hard working families go to work everyday and play by the rules seeking to provide a good living for their families, but still live in poverty. Last November, the American people went to the polls and demanded change. Democrats acted swiftly to fulfill our promise to restore America to a country that works for everyone. It is outrageous for Republicans like Chuck Hagel to continue to ignore the American people and block this crucial bill. The time has come for Chuck Hagel to put partisanship aside and stand up for Nebraska’s working families.”