Minimum Wage Boost Blocked in Senate

NBC News ^ | 04/30/2014 | FRANK THORP V

[SeekAndFind]

A emocratic bill to raise the federal minimum wage to $10.10 was met with overwhelming Republican opposition in the Senate today, where it failed to garner the 60 votes needed to move past a key procedural hurdle.

The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), would have raised the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour over the next 30 months, after which automatic annual increases in the minimum wage would be executed to account for inflation. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee was the only Republican who voted in favor of letting a debate on the measure proceed; it failed by a margin of 54-42.

After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), tweeted, "Republicans just turned their backs on millions of hardworking Americans who deserve a fair shot. This debate is not over."

[Tallguy]

“When Reid sets up the repubicans like this....why don’t they just not vote... Then all the stand alone dem no votes would show up...”

I think that may be because a member of the Senate can change his vote before voting (time) expires. If the Democrat managers caught wind of the Republicans sitting out a vote (ie. voting “present”), then there would be a lot of vote flipping, or pressure to do same.

[Tenacious 1]

A 35% increase in the minimum wage? Has anyone actually given that any thought. 39%!

Wouldn’t that mean that most unions get to raise their rates by about the same amount? I sure wish I could have the government pass a law that gave me a 39% raise. Life sure would be more comfortable for my family.

[musicman]

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[Wiser now]

Harkin is retiring.

[Tenacious 1]

How exactly can the Republicans block anything in the Democrat majority Senate under the new rules?

The new rules you are referring to (I think) only apply to judicial nominations. The Senate no longer recognizes 60 votes to end debate for confirmation hearings.

[JPG]

I always vote emocratic.

[Cheerio]

After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), tweeted, "Republicans just turned their backs on millions of hardworking Americans who deserve a fair shot. This debate is not over."

IF AMERICA IS SO STUPID TO BELIEVE THE LIES COMING OUR OF THE RAT PARTY, they deserve every bit of the disaster this party has perpetrated on America.

Why couldn't Reid even get this past cloture with his easy majority rule of the Senate (failed by a margin of 54-42)?

[Mechanicos]

Still, at least 10 democrats opposed the bill.

[mulligan]

Why? For intelligent reasons or for political posturing? You decide, fair and balanced.

[AEMILIUS PAULUS]

Very good. At least another drag on the economy has been avoided.

[Popman]

That would take leadership and a spine...

[DoodleDawg]

How exactly can the Republicans block anything in the Democrat majority Senate under the new rules?

They waived the 60 vote requirement only for non-Supreme Court presidential appointments.

[DoodleDawg]

Still, at least 10 democrats opposed the bill.

There were 54 votes in favor. If 10 Democrats opposed it then that must mean 11 Republicans voted for it.

[Blood of Tyrants]

And they don’t give a damned who they destroy in the process.

[GraceG]

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), tweeted, “Republicans just turned their backs on millions of hardworking Americans who deserve a fair shot. This debate is not over.”

Gee Harry, i thought the Dims had a majority in the senate you Dirtbag

[AuH2ORepublican]

You’ve got it backwards; a cloture vote *ends* debate, thus allowing a final vote (where the bill can be approved with a simple majority).

[goodnesswins]

Yes....love it...says it all...EMOcrats

[AuH2ORepublican]

“The bill, which was introduced by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), would have raised the federal minimum wage from $7.25 per hour to $10.10 per hour over the next 30 months, after which automatic annual increases in the minimum wage would be executed to account for inflation. Sen. Bob Corker of Tennessee was the only Republican who voted in favor of letting a debate on the measure proceed....”

---

Frankly, I don’t know which one is worse, Lamar! or Corker.

[AuH2ORepublican]

I just noticed that the article itself describes the cloture vote as being a vote to “let the debate proceed.” So it was the author who got it backwards, since cloture ends the debate and allows a vote on final passage to proceed.

[Uncle Miltie]

The Minimum Wage screws young black males worst.

Racist Dems.