- Pennsylvania Among 'Terrible 10' Most Regressive Tax States
- February 4 Non-Partisan Training: HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013: HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Republican Governors Opt-In to Medicaid Expansion
- The Reports of Unions' Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
- Ask Allyson Schwartz to run for Governor
- Mind the gap: Opting Out of Medicaid Expansion Leaves Low-income Families Behind
- Jan. 14 Workshop:HOW TO RUN FOR ELECTION BOARD IN 2013; HOW TO RUN FOR COMMITTEEPERSON IN 2014
- Seth Williams on Guns, Jasmine Rivera on School Closures @PFC Meetup Wednesday
- PA Revenue Strong Midway Through Year; Tax Cut Could Have Big Impact
- What to Make of the Fiscal Cliff Deal?
STATE MINIMUM WAGE RAISED FOR LAWMAKERS ONLY
Submitted by Councilman Goode on Tue, 07/12/2005 - 4:29am.
The Daily News has an editorial today titled : "MONEY FOR NOTHING
- STATE LAWMAKERS TAKE A STAND FOR THEMSELVES"
It rightfully notes that "THE MINIMUM $11,380-a-year raise that Pennsylvania state legislators voted themselves last week is more than their constituents who work full-time at the state minimum wage make in a year."
Clearly, as a lawmaker who voted against City Council's last pay raise to $98,000 ( $102k with the recent COLA), I am distressed that my counterparts would vote for the raise without the consideration of a minimum wage hike for all Pennsylvanians.
But, also as someone who has accepted the raise, I understand that many lawmakers believe that they deserve the raise. Some do, many do not.
The real bone of contention is that many lawmakers won't even consider the minimum wage hike - citing that it is not market-based in their view - while determining that their own wage hike is simply a correct adjustment.
In the end, we may not get what we pay for - but we will certainly pay for all we get.
A call to action!
In retrospect, more progressive Democratic activists probably should have travelled to other states to organize in the last Presidential election (with Pennsylvania's solid margin for Kerry) - similarly many should now be organizing in other counties within the state related to a need for change in the State Legislature.
But hindsight is 20/20.
Agreed, and Welcome
Councilman Goode, welcome to Young Philly Politics.
I agree that we need to think outside the City limits if we want real change in PA. In too many places in PA, the Democratic Party does not exist. Just like nationally we need a 50 state strategy, locally, we need a 67 county strategy. Even in traditional "red" areas, local Democrats can win. Look at the many places in the South, where despite the fact that they will not vote for a Democratic President for at least a generation, there are many locally and state elected Democrats.
Of course, to that end, we have a special election just days away for the PA House, with a solid looking candidate in Linda Minger. Maybe progressive politicians with fundraising connections can help infuse her final few days, and her ground game on Tuesday? That would certianly be a good step going into 2006 and 2008.
Linda Minger
I agree with the vital importance of Linda Minger's state legislative campaign, and I urge all who are capable of doing so to contribute financially to it and/or go up to the Allentown area (about an hour and a half from Philadelphia) to campaign for her.
The Democratic Party is not by any stretch of the imagination a perfect party. But there is an enormous difference in Democratic and Republican priorities. A Linda Minger would be the first time in decades that Democrats have taken two Republican seats in special elections in one year, and would enormously help candidate and volunteer recruitment, as well as fundraising for 2006.
Ed Rendell would clearly be a more progressive governor with more Democrats in the state legislature. And state legislative control in the hands of the Democrats will inevitably lead to more Democratic leaning districts in the U.S. House being drawn for the 2012 elections.
Getting my minimum wage bill past, and maintaining Medicaid benefits, would all be immeasurably aided by a Democratic majority in the House.