On Minimum Wage

Source US Dpt of Labor

States with minimum wage rates higher than the Federal
States with minimum wage rates the same as the Federal
States with no minimum wage law
States with minimum wage rates lower than the Federal
American Samoa has special minimum wage rates

After the rambling nonsense of the SOTU what could the Republicans do to top it, well how about filibuster the minimum wage bill! What was the hold up? What did Republicans want? How about tax cuts for wealthy Americans. Yep the segment of the population that has received the largest windfall will once again be given a handout.

The good news, the amount of corporate welfare was much smaller than demanded. To gain Republican support 8 billion of public treasure will be handed back in the form of tax cuts. With almost a half million Americans making the minimum wage I will be happy to see the (still inadequate at $7.25/hr) bill pass. This still leads us to a sad fact, estimating a 40 hour work week, which is bullshit in and of itself. Who the fig newton works 40 hours at minimum wage? You are either working around 80 at one, two, or possibly three jobs or underemployed so the mass market chain can avoid paying health insurance. Anyways

40 hr @$5.15/hr= $10,712/yr

40 hr @ $7.25/hr= $15,080/yr

The current wage places a family of three about $5,000 below the established, and once again ludicrously low poverty line, and the new wage would put people right on the line. A sad state of affairs. On the cloture vote 4 Republicans stood with a united Democratic front. If you are so inclined click on a name below to thank them.
Norm Coleman (R-MN)
Collins (R-ME)
Olympia Snowe (R-ME)
Arlen Specter (R-PA)

Then look at the list for the cloture vote, see if your senator is in the Nay column and let them know how ya feel. Oh look! The man of the people, the maverick, the whore St. John McCain is there.....
Summary of bill/text/ ammendments/ etc. click here