Senators Hatch and Bennett vote to punish 178,000 Utahns for being poor

Wednesday, January 24, 2007

News Release

For Immediate Release

January 24, 2007

Senate Republicans Block Minimum Wage Hike for Utah's Working Families

Senators Hatch and Bennett vote to punish 178,000 Utahns for being poor

Washington , DC- Today, Republican Senators Bennett and Hatch voted to block the Democratic plan to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25, a plan that would have given a much needed pay raise to almost 178,000 Utahns. [CBPP, 8/2/06] As part of its first 100 hours agenda, House Democrats voted to increase the minimum wage for the first time in more than nine years - the longest period in the history of the law. During that time, Members of Congress have received a $31,600 pay raise, while the real value of the minimum wage has plummeted to its lowest level in 51 years. [Economic Policy Institute, 6/06]

Despite the fact that nearly 13 million American workers would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage and 89 percent of Americans support its increase, including 72 percent of Republicans, Senators Hatch and Bennett once again put their special interest friends ahead of the American people by blocking a minimum wage hike. [EPI] [Newsweek poll, 11/11/06]

"It is deeply disappointing that Senator ignored the will of the American people, President Bush's own call for bipartisanship last night, and the needs of 178,000 Utahns by rejecting a minimum wage hike," said Utah State Democratic Party Chair Wayne Holland, Jr.

"Too many of our hard working families go to work everyday and play by the rules in a desperate and ever more challenging environment to provide a living for their families, but so many still live in poverty. It is contemptible for our elected officials to continue to ignore the American people and block this crucial bill. The time has come for them to put aside their petty, vindictive, and arrogant partisanship stand up for Utah's working families."

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