Smells Fishy
File under "that didn't take long."
Minimum wage increases for all!!! ...unless you're a factory worker for a global food processing multinational conglomerate headquartered in Speaker Pelosi's district.
The new minimum wage bill passed by the House that increases the minimum wage by more than 40% also includes a special exemption that exclusively benefits Del Monte and Chicken of the Sea, global food processors with respective headquarters in San Francisco and San Diego.
"I was troubled to learn of this exemption," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. "My intention was to raise the minimum wage for everyone. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."
The Speaker's spokeswoman insists that she has not been lobbied by either company. Oh... well... that's good to know.
Just one week on the job, and we already have clues about the Democrats' new 'ethical leadership'. Stay tuned for more of the same.
posted by Randy @ 1/12/2007 02:06:00 PM
6 comments
6 Comments:
Pot? This is kettle calling. Yeah, you're black all right. Just wanted to let you know...
Mistake #2 for the Dems? (The first being pushing their 100-hour agenda without allowing GOP input.) Regardless of whether this is a case of the Dems simply doing what the GOP used to do, I am disappointed. I felt that the results of the mid-term elections were a clear signal that the country is tired of the partisan bickering and playground politicking. So, more of the same is not an encouraging beginning.
Two things from the Washington Times article that stood out: (1) I think this guy is hilarious--"During the House debate yesterday on stem-cell research, Mr. McHenry raised a parliamentary inquiry as to whether an amendment could be offered that would exempt American Samoa from stem-cell research, 'just as it was for the minimum-wage bill;'" and, (2) how can the Republicans be surprised to find out there were exemptions written into the bill? Didn't they read the fucking thing before they voted on it?
Yeah, disappointing, I don't approve of exceptions to the minimum wage.
Plus, its a political mistake. Sure, the Dems that are responsible might think and/or say things like "We got a minimum wage hike for 99.9% of American workers, whereas the GOP did nothing" or "So we exempt 2 companies from a bill, the GOP did much worse, including explicitly selling their votes to Jack Abramoff", but the fact is, this was a wrong move morally and politically.
Now every hack pundit (fom Sean Hannity down - or is it up?) can point to this bill and characterize it as Democratic shady dealings. They are STARVING for this kind of thing (having been pummeled by Abramoff, several convicted bribe-taking GOP congressman, selling DOD to Cheney's friends, etc. etc.), so they'll latch onto a minnow and scream like its the old GOP whale born anew.
Let's not start down this slippery slope, or we'll end up as corrupt and morally reprehensible as the bunch of crooks we booted out.
Slippery slope? Please. Don't piss on my leg and tell me its raining.
If the so-called hack pundits want to point out Democrat shady dealings, they need look no further than this roll call of Pelosi's "most ethical Congress in History":
William "Cold Cash" Jefferson (D-LA)
"Unindicted co-conspiritor" John Murtha (D-PA)
John "Staffer Sweatshop" Conyers (D-MI)
"The Impeachable" Alcee Hastings (D-FL)
"Mr. Earmark" Alan Mollohan (D-WV)
"Dirty" Harry Reid (D-NV)
Golly, its just getting full of minnows in here.
I love feeble attempts to disparage the "other party" after yours has been utterly and completely destroyed in the 'ol reputation department. Self-inflicted wounds, too.
My favorites -- not politicians, but pundit extraordinaires nonetheless -- are William "Don't Bet on Bill" Bennett and Rush "To Get More Drugs" Limbaugh.
Sweet jaysus did they expose the moral hypocrisy of the Religious Conservative Right in a way no "Dem" could ever have hoped for... great show, fellas. Great show.
Not for a second am I claiming that the R's should hold claim to the high ground- politicians or pundits.
I simply find it equally lame when the party who takes control acts as if its members are any more pure... as if their proverbial s**t somehow doesn't stink.
Making grandiose claims such as the "most ethical Congress in history" invites scrutiny, just as it does those who claim piety. To continue the example of the religious right, Ted Haggard's hypocrisy comes to mind; or, if you prefer a minister who votes for Democrats, think Jesse Jackson.
Corruption in politics is as old as politics itself. People exploit power, regardless of the party those people choose. Democrats are no less aquainted with corrupt party members than Republicans.
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