WASHINGTON, Huff Post Politics - Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), the ranking Republican on the Senate's
labor committee, said in a hearing Tuesday that he would prefer to see
the minimum wage abolished.
Alexander's
declaration came amid a back-and-forth between a witness from the
conservative Heritage Foundation and Sens. Tom Harkin (D-Iowa) and
Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). The trio had been debating what kind of impact a
higher minimum wage would have on a theoretical worker, and it seemed
Sanders wanted to know whether the witness opposed raising the minimum
wage or having a minimum wage at all.
"There
are some conservatives who do not believe in the concept of the minimum
wage," Sanders said to the witness, James Sherk, a labor policy analyst
at the think tank.
"Let me jump in," Alexander then said. "I do not believe in it."
The policy debate had been lively, with interruptions all around, and Sanders grew excited at Alexander's interjection.
"So we have a ranking member," Sanders responded. "Alright! There we go!"
Sanders turned to Alexander.
"So you do not believe in the concept of the minimum wage?"
"That's correct," Alexander responded.
"You would abolish the minimum wage?"
"Correct." (read more and watch the video exchange)
My Comment: I am proud of Senator Alexander for showing the courage to speak the truth. The minimum wage cuts off the bottom rung off of the ladder. Every time the minimum wage is raised, it makes it harder for people to enter the labor market. With an increase in the minimum wage low-end jobs are replaced with labor saving devices or simply eliminated. Without a minimum wage, we would have people pumping gas for you and carrying your groceries to the car. It is better for one to have a job that pays $7.25 an hour than not have a job that pays $7.50 an hour.
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So you think a living can be made from pumping YOUR gas and carrying YOUR groceries. Most baggers at grocery stores are either young people (teens), seniors (those trying to subsidize their income) or the developmentally disabled (who are receiving some other type of benefit). So while you are missing the good ol' days of having your lifestyle served, these are people who would not be able to make a "living", just because they have a job, on those types of earnings. Why don't you act like a man and pump your own gas and since you think you are providing such an invaluable service to have someone bag your groceries, tip them on your way out.
ReplyDeleteYeah, that sounds good, but why doesn't he vote that way?
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ontheissues.org/SenateVote/Party_2005-26.htm
http://www.ontheissues.org/SenateVote/Party_2007-042.htm (note Bailout Bob is right there too)
Does he only believe during campaign season?