I find this kind of funny:
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island's work force. StarKist's parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.
So much for looking out for the little guy. If the new, higher minimum wage is necessary for workers in markets with many different employment opportunities, wouldn't it be absolutely essential in a market where one company employs 75% of the work force? If only Samoans mattered to the powers that be, at least from a political perspective.
3 comments:
So Republican opposition to this wage increase is based on the exclusion of the Samoans?
Not at all. Speaking only for myself, and not all Republicans everywhere, I oppose this nonsensical legislation because A. It artificially sets the price of a commodity, which will lead to paucity of employment opportunities for the most needy. B. If you were to double the minimum wage, it will still be too low to support a family in almost every market. C. Like most things the Democrats spend their time doing this legislation is devoid of principle and accomplishes nothing positive. In fact it does nothing but harm. See Gun Control, ANWR Oil Drilling, Drug Pricing, Agricultural Policy, Symbolic Votes On The Iraq War
Or Republican policies large on expense but short on results..see The War on Drugs, War on Immigration, War in Iraq etc...
I am not an economist but it seems to me that competive Drug pricing would be good for consumer? Do we not shop around for best deals as individuals?
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