Senate clears way for minimum wage vote

[Freddie Stubbs]

WASHINGTON - The Senate cleared the way for an increase in the minimum wage Tuesday, but only with business tax breaks that House Democrats want removed.

Final Senate passage of the legislation is expected later this week, setting the stage for a round of difficult negotiations between House and Senate Democrats over how to get the legislation to President Bush for his signature.

In a key test, the Senate voted 87-10 to end debate on the bill Tuesday, well clear of the 60 votes needed.

Earlier this month, the House passed the same increase in the wage floor — from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years — without any tax provisions. Senate Democrats tried to push through the House version last week, but failed to get the 60 votes to end debate.

more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070130/ap_on_go_co/minimum_wage

[Demeter]

1. They Can Just Eliminate Those Tax Cuts in Reconciliation Then

looks like sausage making to me.

[Robbien]

2. Business tax breaks

How this is even discussed as a possibility without the press jumping all over the GOPers.

[dubyaD40web]

3. A win for small business

"The tax breaks in the Senate bill have divided the private sector, pitting small businesses and retailers that would benefit from them against the larger corporations and manufacturers that would have to pay for them. The package costs $8.3 billion in lost tax revenue over 10 years."

[onehandle]

4. Veto City, U.S.A.

Let them eat cake.

[spag68]

5. I would like to see

what is the definition of "small business".

[RedRocco]

14. Small business size standards

straight from the SBA
http://www.sba.gov/services/contractingopportunities/sizestandardstopics/tableofsize/SERV_TABLE_HTML.html
looks to be 500 employees for most businesses with certain businesses allowed up to 1500 people. It doesn't sound very small to me.

[wizstars]

6. If they want tax breaks, they can pay for it with....

...legislation to stop companies from moving offshore to avoid taxes. That would more than replace whatever the minimum wage would cost in jobs lost.

Of course, the idea that a higher minimum wage would cost so many jobs is just a supply-sider fantasy. It's just an argument to avoid paying a living wage and pocketing the saving.

[meldroc]

7. I can live with the business tax breaks.

They certainly won't help the deficit situation, but I'll be willing to tolerate these tax breaks in exchange for a minimum wage increase.

Sausage making indeed.

[zanne]

8. If Republicans block this bill...

We can look forward to a Democratic takeover in 98'--all three branches.

[truthisfreedom]

18. you must mean '08.

[knight_of_the_star]

9. Watch Bush veto this one

We have to beat the GOP over the head with this one if Bush vetoes it after we made the effort to give them what they want.

[Freddie Stubbs]

10. He won't becasue the bill includes tax cuts for small businesses

[FreeStateDemocrat]

11. Only tax break that should be passed is excluding people earning minimum wage from any tax burden.

How about, just for a change, a realistic tax break for the working poor. Why doesn't the Democratic Party try to do the right thing for people who don't have a paid lobby or apparently any real representation in our party? Fuck the ruling class in both parties.

[barb162]

12. I'd like to see min. wage increases tied to Congress's raises

[RedRocco]

15. And congressional salaries

made equal to the median income of their home district. That way they would have to improve conditions for their constituents in order to actually get a raise.

[moondust]

13. Why did Vitter vote no?

Even Lott voted aye. And Jeff Sessions!

Why did 10 vote no? Especially Vitter who represents New Orleans which could probably use those small business tax breaks as much as anybody. ??

[mvd]

16. Yeah - that was a nice touch, wasn't it

I'm not surprised about nutcase Colburn, but Martinez and Vitter surprised me. Guess Florida elected an even worse scum than I thought.

[mvd]

17. According to an e-mail..

..I got from Ted Kennedy (from his [e-mail] address) yesterday, there are $240 billion in tax breaks for corporations and $36 billion in tax breaks for small businesses. That tells the real story, and some Repukes STILL voted against cloture! :grr: