KENNEDY:
"What's a Samoa? Is it a drink with an umbrella in it?"
Posted on 01/12/2007 12:52:23 PM PST by GeorgiaDawg32
Video link on foxnews website, www.foxnews.com left side of the screen..
According to FoxNews, pelosi now says Samoa is INCLUDED..
Her trickle-up theory apparently won't go over very well with the people there, as their representative had this to say (pay attention to para 2) regarding the devastation of the Samoan economy if this goes through:
"In a statement in response today, Faleomavaega (American Samoa delegate) said "despite recent claims made by the Washington Post which suggest that American Samoa is exempt from the federal minimum wage process, I wish to set the record straight." He says since 1956, the Wage and Hour Division of the US Department of Labor has conducted Special Industry Committees every two years in American Samoa to determine minimum wage increases.
"While these Industry Committees have been phased out in other US Territories due to their more diversified economies, American Samoa continues to be a single industry economy. In fact, more than 80% of our private sector economy is dependent either directly, or indirectly, on two U.S. tuna processors, Chicken of the Sea and StarKist. As has been repeatedly stated at our Special Industry Committees, a decrease in production or departure of one or both of the two canneries in American Samoa could devastate the local economy resulting in massive layoffs and insurmountable financial difficulties," the Congressman says.
"For this very reason, I do not support efforts to apply mainland minimums to American Samoa at this time. The truth is the global tuna industry is so competitive that it is no longer possible for the federal government to demand mainland minimum wage rates for American Samoa without causing the collapse of our economy and making us welfare wards of the federal government."
Oh, heck. I was hoping they'd leave Samoa the way it was and exclude all the rest.
An admission that minimum wage laws are counterproductive?
Does this apply to Puerto Rico also?
KENNEDY:
"What's a Samoa? Is it a drink with an umbrella in it?"
good thing the culture of corruption ended when mistress nancy took charge.
"Not Samoa. Just those portions where there are companies
which either donate to me, or where my husband and I own stock."
Obviously the Samoan delegate is a liar. We all know that raising the minimum wage has no effect on employment. /sarcasm off
I bet she's pissed at FR for blowing this one up in her face.
Good one
Pelosi forgot to mention culture of corruption regarding Samoa
aren't the 100 hours up yet?
Hmm, so they aren't excluded from the 'process', but they are excluded from actually complying. That is so much better.
what's the bottom line here - will the samoans be getting the higher wages?
Governing isn't as easy as griping, izzit Nancy?.........
WOW! I'd better stock up on Tuna before the price goes up to pay for these increases!
No.
Hammer meets nail squarely down center.
that's right, I don't get it. how can they be INCLUDED in the bill but EXCLUDED from compliance? that's a total hand wave, just for Pelosi to save face.
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