Yet, even though a majority in the Senate favors an increase, Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole is refusing to schedule a vote, trying to build a coalition to pass amendments that would kill the proposal. This is pure partisan presidential politics, not to mention fundamentally mean-spirited. Presidential candidate Dole does not want to give President Clinton a victory.
It has been five years since the last increase in the minimum wage. Inflation continues to eat away at the real take home pay of nearly 12 million minimum wage workers. Today, minimum wage work provides an annual income of only $8,840, nearly 30% below the poverty line.
It is time to put aside election year politics and do the right thing.
ACTION: Contact Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole and tell him to schedule a vote on the minimum wage immediately.
WAYS TO TAKE ACTION:
Dear Senator Dole,
As you prepare to leave the Senate to campaign full time for the Presidency, you should not hold up a vote on the minimum wage. Regardless of your own opposition to this small increase, it is mean spirited to allow a small number of highly paid Senators to block what most Americans want.
Tens of millions of working Americans will benefit directly from this increase. Study after study has shown that modest increases in the minimum wage can be achieved without costing jobs.
I urge you not to play presidential politics with this measure. The minimum wage deserves a clean up or down vote, free of extraneous issues such as tax breaks for small businesses, a gas tax reduction, or a balanced budget constitutional amendment.
Your time to do the right thing is limited. This is your last chance to leave behind a small legacy of economic justice.
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