Jackson, Conyers Push for Higher Fed Mininmum Wage

By Lauren Victoria Burke 
Crew of 42 
June 6, 2012

http://www.crewof42.com/featured/jackson-conyers-push-for-higher-fed-min-wage/?utm

"There are people at WalMart who make under $10 an
hour. The CEO makes over $11,000 an hour," said
consumer advocate Ralph Nader. The average income in
the U.S. is $40,584. The current minimum wage is $7.25
an hour.

Nader joined members of Congress as they reminded
reporters that, since the minimum wage was last raised
in 2007, a taxpayer funded multi-billion auto and bank
bailout was voted through Congress. Advocates pushing
to raise the minimum wage say it's time for average
Americans to receive help in the form of an increase in
the minimum wage.

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), who is the chief
sponsor of legislation to increase the wage to $10,
reminded reporters of President Obama's 2008
presidential campaign position to raised the minimum
wage.

"The President of the United State said himself as a
candidate he wanted to see the minimum wage raised to
$9.50. It is now 2012. I'm calling on President Barack
Obama to honor his campaign commitment of 2008 and
stand behind legislation that raised the minimum wage
for the American people," Jackson said. He told
reporters the minimum wage should be raised to $10.
Jackson is offering legislation, The Catching Up to
1968 Act of 2012, to do just that.

"A rising tide does not lift all boats," said Rep.
Dennis Kucinich (D-OH), who is a co-sponsor on
Jackson's legislation. Kucinich may have been referring
to President Obama's 2009 reference as he answered a
question on high Black unemployment. "The President
would win the election if he did this," Kucinich added.
A raise in the minimum wage would effect roughly 30
million people.

"It will raise the morale of all Americans to know that
this Administration is doing everything they can,"
Conyers said referring to his hopes the White House
will support the a minimum wage increase.

Jackson, Nader and Conyers asserted that raising the
minimum wage should be bi-partisan. Nader claimed that
former GOP presidential candidate Rick Santorum and
presumptive nominee Mitt Romney have expressed past
support for a raise in the minimum wage.

"Raising the federal minimum wage involves 30 million
workers. These are not just liberal workers or
progressive workers, these are conservative workers and
libertarian workers. This is a unifying issue in our
country," Nader said.

"They are not lazy they are not on welfare, they are
not seeking state subsidies. at the end of a hard days
work they deserve $400 dollars a week or $20,800 a
year," Jackson said. Since the Democrats are in the
minority it is doubtful Jackson's legislation woud move
forward though he claims Repubican support is not out
of the question.
____________

Lauren Victoria Burke, Politic365 Chief Congressional
Correspondent, publishes the blog Crewof42 on the
Congressional Black Caucus. She is heard every Tuesday
at 4 p.m. ET on WMCS 1290 in Milwaukee on Earl Ingram's
show The Evening Rush as well as on WPFW every Friday
at 6:30 p.m. in Washington DC. You can e-mail her at
[log in to unmask] com follow her on twitter at
@[log in to unmask]

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