Other GOP Candidates Leery of Minimum Wage
EmailABC News' Z. Byron Wolf reports: Alaska Republican Joe Miller’s argument to Jon Karl that the federal government lacks the constitutional authority to impose a federal minimum wage was rejected by the Supreme Court back in 1941, and opposing it would put him in a distinct minority in Congress. The minimum wage has found broad, bipartisan support in recent years, even if it has not been raised frequently or enough to satisfy some Democrats. A proposal to raise the federal minimum wage was the second bill introduced by Democrats and Nancy Pelosi when she became Speaker of the House. In the Senate that bill passed 94-3 in 2007. The wage was ultimately passed into law as part of a Defense Authorization with fewer votes, but still overwhelmingly. But among outsider Republican candidates, objection to the minimum wage is more common. the tie that binds politicians who oppose the minimum wage is being new to politics and coming from a business management background. Rand Paul, the Kentucky Republican ophthalmologist in private practice and son of Libertarian Republican Texas Rep. Ron Paul, agrees that Congress can mandate a minimum wage, but he questions whether they should. As Paul told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos back in May, “It's not a question of whether (the federal government) can or cannot. I think that's decided. I think the question you have to ask is whether or not when you set the minimum wage it may cause unemployment.” Watch that interview here: “The least skilled people in our society have more trouble getting work the higher you make the minimum wage,” Paul said then. In Connecticut, the former WWE CEO, Linda McMahon, who is running for Senate, was quoted last week by a Connecticut paper as saying that she thinks people have benefited from the minimum wage, but maybe it ought to be lower than $7.25. "The minimum wage now in our country, I think we've set that and a lot of people have benefited from it in our country, but I think we ought to review how much it ought to be, and whether or not we ought to have increases in the minimum wage," McMahon said at a press conference Sept. 30th. Some states, like Alaska, have a minimum wage that is higher than the current rate of $7.25 per hour. The federal wage was stagnant at $5.15 per hour for ten years from 1998 to 2008. The minimum wage is higher in both Connecticut ($8.25) and Alaska ($7.75) than it is at the federal level. In West Virginia, the wage is the federally mandated $7.25. But the Republican candidate there wants to get rid of the wage altogether. “I profess that minimum wage be eliminated and we operate on the laws of supply and demand just like we did before the depression,' he added,” said John Raese, the wealthy businessman who is running for Senate in West Virginia, according to a Register-Herald write-up of a candidate forum in Beckley, West VA September 17th. –Z. Byron Wolf
Biden Reflects on Grief, Suicidal Thoughts 
Is Congress Sounding Dumber?
Mr. J Miller proposition not only
hurts minimum wage workers, but
also those who work hard to
join the middle class. IF a
small business in Alaska cannot
afford to pay the minimum wage,
alternatives can be considered.
The workers themselves can
agree to work for less, depending
on the size of their families.
Working in freezing weather and in
boats fishing is especially
burdensome. Those workers deserve
to earn more. They probably get sick
more often than in warmer states.
Miller’s idea is a big mistake.
Posted by: Moderate American | October 4, 2010, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
Miller thinks the minimum wage is a state matter not a federal matter. ABC is misleading with their headline in their rush to stump for democrats.
Posted by: anitlaen2 | October 4, 2010, 6:17 pm 6:17 pm
How high should the minimum wage be?
Posted by: Jeff B. | October 4, 2010, 6:54 pm 6:54 pm
Minimum wage is a guideline, it’s not meant to be the standard.The federal government sets fair standards to protect workers from corporations and businesses that would otherwise discriminate. Without Federal guidelines many states could vote in sub standard wages, especially those controlled by large corporations. There is already an ungodly discrepancy in wages from CEO’s to laborers. We’ve seen what can happen when big business controls anything…the little guy gets the shaft
Posted by: Bea | October 4, 2010, 6:57 pm 6:57 pm
LOL….”Welcome”… to Tea Party America!
Posted by: Georgie_Bushie | October 4, 2010, 7:22 pm 7:22 pm
And most of the Ignorants are talking crazy! Why? Because Mr. Obama is the President. Not that they are even qualified to be a “dog catcher” , but at least they’re not BLACK, uh, Muslim and on and on with the stupidity. Most are cutting off their own necks based on the color of the President’s skin.
Posted by: sara | October 4, 2010, 7:27 pm 7:27 pm
The “right wing” (GOP and tea partiers) will fall on their own “fanatical, extremist” sword. Just you watch.
Posted by: CND FOX | October 4, 2010, 8:02 pm 8:02 pm
We should be focusing on maximum wage. How much should be going to shareholders vs employees who actually work for a living? By the way, most all of us are those employees. Why do the poorest have to suffer when things go wrong? The poor in this country work the hardest and take risks these shareholders wouldn’t dream of. Take down the corporate capitalist consumer empire!
Posted by: Dave | October 4, 2010, 8:56 pm 8:56 pm
I was a “minority” as a teen in an all white cannery. I never felt that people were trying to pay me less or feared the majority in any way.
I think some of our minorities have a mental illness.
This was long ago.
I’m sick of the “minority” excuse for everything.
Let businesses pay what they want.
Posted by: Leilani | October 4, 2010, 9:03 pm 9:03 pm
More teens could get jobs – and they don’t “deserve” minimum wage if they are young and just need experience.
But, the government cares so much about illegals – teens are the forgotten labor force. Then they turn to gangs – and adults act as though they don’t know why!
Posted by: Leilani | October 4, 2010, 9:07 pm 9:07 pm
Maybe, we need to set minimum wage and bonuses for CEOs . These lazy fat cats make obscene salaries while the little man does all the work.
Posted by: what667 | October 4, 2010, 9:23 pm 9:23 pm
Friends and Neighbors we need to get rid of the republican party. They hate the middle class and poor. The republicans conservative ideology has robbed us all. I’m a businessman myself and I need lots of customers with cash. Not just 1 CEO that makes 16 thousand dollars an “hour”. I have seen enough of this nations resources and coastline signed over to offshore global corporate tax havens by republicans and the drill here drill now nut cases.
Posted by: rightbehind | October 4, 2010, 10:04 pm 10:04 pm
If Joe Miller and the other Tea Party wingnuts want so badly to get rid of the minimum wage, I say we try this little experiment on them first. If any of these clowns actually get elected, let’s pay them what they’re worth, let’s pay them $5.00 an hour and see how far that gets them in DC. No health insurance either because health insurance provided by the government is Socialism.
Posted by: Matt | October 4, 2010, 10:44 pm 10:44 pm
DEFEAT CON REPUBLICONS, THEY CRASH THE ECONOMY WITH TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS WASTED ON FRAUDULENT WARS, WHAT WMD ? THEN THE CONS BAIL OUT WALL STREET AND NOT THE AVERAGE AMERICAN FALLEN ON HARD TIMES. DEFEAT THE CONS WHO GOT US INTO THIS MESS AND CONTINUE TO OBSTRUCT EVERY EFFORT TO FIX THEIR MESS. VOTE FOR A BETTER TOMORROW.
Posted by: JIM | October 4, 2010, 10:51 pm 10:51 pm
REPUBLICONS ARE THE WORST FARCE MONEY CAN BUY, WHAT WMD ?
Posted by: JIM | October 4, 2010, 10:52 pm 10:52 pm
How about a maximum wage==or does that offend republicans
Posted by: vissionquest | October 4, 2010, 11:05 pm 11:05 pm
These republicans who are begrudging people of receiving the minimum wage are billionaires running for office. These people have no shame. They will make sure the rich get tax cuts that will add trillions to the deficit, but hate for people to get minimum wage. There is a GOP hypocrite in every republican politician who wants to balance the budget, but not raise taxes on the wealthy. The republicans are scum in my book.
Posted by: Vicki | October 4, 2010, 11:54 pm 11:54 pm
If a company can’t afford to pay at least $10 per hr the Company will never make it anyways. $400 gross per week is nothing.
Posted by: Magnum1 | October 4, 2010, 11:55 pm 11:55 pm
For all those politicians who think the minimum wage is too high…please move to Kansas. That states minimum wage has been at $2.65 an hour for many years. Looking to move there back in 2004…I loved the state and the people…but couldn’t take the chance on a loaf of bread costing me more than what I might be making in an hour.
Posted by: D | October 5, 2010, 12:01 am 12:01 am
Why is it always legislation/programs that protect the poor that Republicans want to abolish? Minimum wage, Health insurance, welfare, medicaid, social security, unemployment…..and the list goes on.
Can any of you wingnuts who work for a living explain this? And while you’re at it how about explaining why you vote for these fools who don’t have your best interest in mind?
Posted by: dk | October 5, 2010, 1:22 am 1:22 am
Miller doesn’t believe that the minimum wage is a state matter. No.
Miller believes that the decision of wages should be given to corporations.
You know those same corporations with their corporate greed who with the help of Republican’s financial incentives decided to outsource those American jobs and send those American jobs overseas to India and China and other countries where those same corporations are paying workers ($3.00) three dollars a month for 18 to 20 hour work days with no breaks for lunch or meals of any kind. Not even a bathroom break. Like The IPOD manufacturing corporation in China.
Posted by: Angie | October 5, 2010, 1:37 am 1:37 am
You look at the law (minimum wage) and its intentions but you don’t look at it’s effects. The minimum wage is why it is impossible for unskilled workers to get a job. The government makes it illegal to hire someone unless they are worth $8 an hour. The minimum wage obviously is good for those that can get a job but it is the cause of many persons unemployment.
Posted by: benjamin kurz | October 5, 2010, 2:20 am 2:20 am
Joe Miller is correct. America needs to be more competitive in the global marketplace. The American worker cannot compete with the Chinese worker making $2 a day. Getting rid of the minimum wage allows Americans to be truly competitive, by getting themselves to be also paid $2 a day as well, or less. Think about it. If people get paid $1.75 a day, the Chinese worker will have no chance against that kind of competition, and the jobs will come back to America. Is the free enterprise system great or what?
Posted by: X | October 5, 2010, 3:23 am 3:23 am
When minimum wage was first implimented at $1.00 that is $10.00 in current money.
Real wages peaked in 1983 its been down hill ever since. In 1925 a new car cost $3,550.00 in 2009 dollars.1920 Green Bay Wisconsin Four-room Bungalow w/one acre land $3,100 = $33,200.00 using the Consumer Price Index.
Posted by: Antipropaganda | October 5, 2010, 3:46 am 3:46 am
Tax break for the rich but no minimum wage, that’s the republican platform.
Posted by: hybridhealthcare | October 5, 2010, 6:26 am 6:26 am
Republican Agenda: Reverse Lincolns Emancipation Proclomation, and get everyone on slave labor. The outcome as the middle classes disappear, guess who’s next. You’ve got all these state candidates talking about how the Democrats have lost all the jobs in their states, while the jobs are disappearing as the Republican backers send all the jobs overseas. Boehners home state Ohio goes through the same thing, blaming the Governor, and Lee Fisher, while jobs ALL OVER THE COUNTRY, are being outsourced by the big corporations who blame the unionsfor not working for pennies, while their CEO’s make millions per year.I’ve heard the CEO of my own very successful company say the UNIONS, have to make sacrifices, while he makes in 1 day, what I do in a year at a top non-management wage. I almost through up.
Posted by: parma hts gary | October 5, 2010, 6:58 am 6:58 am
What if I’m jobless/poor/homeless and willing to work for $5/hour? No company will employ me because the government would then prosecute them for not paying me minimum wage.
That’s not fair. I want to work… even for $5/hour, but the government makes me that impossible with the minimum wage. Isn’t this supposed to be a free country? Shouldn’t I be able to work for whoever I want, for whatever amount I’m willing to work for?
Our government is now a Socialist, tyrannical group of thugs, incompetents and criminals who want to tell us what to do, what to eat, how much we can make, how to treat each other and send our children to die in wars based on lies, in the name of spreading Democracy, which hasn’t worked here so well, has it?
Any government which has to force its citizens to pay them taxes, regulate their businesses, tell them how they can and cannot live, is not a government of peace, intelligence or compassion. It is a government of force and oppression. This is what we have done to our country by continuing to vote the same idiots into office, year after year. We’ve done it to ourselves America! Look in the mirror!
Posted by: John Galt | October 5, 2010, 7:39 am 7:39 am
Exactly how much is enough for these GOP and Tea Party Greedy Clowns? Mind you an individual is paid minimum wage only IF and that’s a big IF, they can even find a job anymore in America. Land of Opportunity?? For who? Certainly not “the people” and then you have fools like this literally trying to finish the job. I remember the speech Sen. Kennedy gave on the Senate Floor when he was attempting to get this Minimum Wage Bill passed – he personally shamed this group of GOP robbers so badly the bill passed. Let’s see a TV commercial showing this speech entitled “This is what WE want for you” followed by a Paul speech re minimum wage and then followed by Christine O’Donnell telling “the people” she’s not a witch, she’s one of US!!! That tells the whole story.
Posted by: Connie | October 5, 2010, 12:14 pm 12:14 pm
ugh
Posted by: ron | October 5, 2010, 12:47 pm 12:47 pm
The minimum wage is a poverty wage as it exists now. Where I live what would be considered a living wage for a single man with no kids is $12.36/hour. Federal minimum wage is $7.25/hr. Nobody anywhere in the U.S., even in Alabama, could live on $7.25/hr. Nobody. The federal minimum wage needs to be raised to a LIVING wage. The fact that it’s $7.25 is breathtakingly heartless. Just another example of how the U.S. government is nothing but the octopus arms of big business.
Posted by: Think About It | October 11, 2010, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm