He Voted Himself a Raise...What has he done for you?
He Voted Himself a Raise...What has he done for you?
For Immediate Release
March 9, 2006
Contact: Pete Sherman 866-209-8031 ext. 112 or pete@tony4congress2006.com
McCotter Refuses to Support Minimum Wage Increase Even When Fellow Michigan Republicans Do
But He Supported a Pay Raise for Congress!
Wixom, MI — It has been eight years since the minimum wage has been increased in the Michigan Legislature and nine years since the US Congress passed an increase for
working Americans. Today, while state legislative Republicans in Michigan joined the Democrats in doing the right thing, Congressman Thaddeus McCotter (R-11th Congressional District) is still on the wrong side of helping Michiganders make ends meet.
“I applaud the Republican controlled Michigan Senate that unanimously voted for raising the minimum wage for Michigan,” Tony Trupiano said. “Unfortunately Rep. McCotter is out of touch with his own party in Michigan and, more importantly, his voters in Oakland and Wayne Counties. Jobs are going overseas, the auto industry is laying people off, and wages are falling. Once again, Thad has been absent when we need leadership in Washington.”
Regrettably, it has been nine years since the conservative-led Congress last raised the federal minimum wage (currently set at $5.15 per hour). During the same period, Congress has given itself eight cost of living pay
increases ($31,600) while CEOs are receiving record pay. In fact, if the minimum wage were raised at the same rate as CEO salary increases, the minimum wage today would be $23.03/hour.
Representative McCotter and the Republican Congress believe it is more important to raise their own wages. The average production worker on minimum wage earns less than the pay raise McCotter gave himself since the last minimum wage increase.
“I believe it is a question of values and priorities. I believe we should be helping folks who are working hard and looking for a fair shake, but Rep. McCotter and the Congressional Republicans have a different philosophy. Their heart is with the most privileged and with the special interests. That is why they are more willing to help Dick DeVos then provide a living wage for working women trying to raise a family. Hard working Americans who work forty hours a week and earn the minimum wage still find themselves living near the poverty line.”
Michigan workers need a living wage; Michigan mothers need a living wage; and the Michigan legislature agrees. But McCotter does nothing about it. McCotter either has the wrong priorities or he lacks the leadership
qualities Michigan expects and deserves in our representatives. Either way the people of Michigan can not afford re-electing McCotter to Congress.
