Senator Martinez, as a Florida constituent, WTF??

[Coexist]

Senator Martinez, a respectful but heartfelt "Do you even KNOW from which state you hail?".

YOU are a large part of the reason the Minimum Wage Amendment is not on Bush's desk.

Now, this confuses me. You see, I am also from Florida, Senator Martinez. The way this whole representation thing goes, you are supposed to represent Floridians up there in D.C.

Are you following me so far?

Good.

Because, Senator, us regular folk down here in the Sunshine State passed an Amendment way back in 2004, effectively raising the Minimum Wage every year, to adjust for inflation. We are up to $6.67 already in this red, red state.

So, 70% of your constituents agreed that a minimum wage of $5.15 was too low, and fixed the problem - and our economy has not collapsed - in fact it has flourished. Yet somehow you feel you have the right to hold that higher wage from the rest of the country?

Hello?

I hope you like to read more than your buddy George, because the St. Pete Times editorial today pretty much has your number:

When U.S. Sen. Mel Martinez was speaking on the Senate floor about a bill that would put certain limits on offshore drilling in the gulf, he worried aloud about the toll high energy bills were taking on "struggling families who sit around the kitchen table to find the budget busted by yet ever-increasing energy costs."

But the compassion the Florida Republican had for the state's financially strapped families now seems to have faded. Martinez, who is also chairman of the Republican National Committee, has joined with other members of his party to block an increase in the federal minimum wage unless billions of dollars in tax breaks for small businesses are part of the deal.

<snip>
It has been 10 years since the federal minimum wage has been raised. It now stands at $5.15 per hour, or $10,712 per year - a wage so paltry that it puts a family of three more than $4,000 under the poverty line. In that same period, Congress has raised its own pay by more than $30,000.

The move to raise the minimum wage by $2.10 per hour has been repeatedly stymied by Republicans who claim it will hurt small business owners and reduce employment opportunities. But these claims are easily rebutted by the facts. In states where there is already a higher minimum wage, employment in small businesses actually increased by 9.4 percent between 1997 and 2003.

You are voting in direct opposition to your constituency. You are punishing the working poor in OTHER states with your vote, YOUR state is not one that will be greatly affected.

Really sir, WTF??

[williesgirl]

1. Every FL resident should call his office and scream about this - again party before country!

recommended

[Coexist]

3. sad, but true. It is the MO for any Florida republican. eom

[Not Me]

2. K&R from Orlando

[UTUSN]

4. Why "respectful" to that p.o.s.? n/t