If the American middle class and poor are doomed to carry more and more of our tax burden, then what’s the point? Wouldn’t it make more sense to toss out this legislation and offer up one that increases the wages of the American wealthy? Same damn difference! Even more pathetic than that, I know poor republicans who agree that a minimum wage increase is a bad idea, and that the wealthy deserves more breaks! Brainwashing at it’s finest.

Bush’s pledge of bipartisanship at work; “I strongly encourage the House to support this combined minimum wage increase and small business tax relief.”

Minimum wage bill heads to negotiations

WASHINGTON - Republicans are warning Democrats not to tamper with Senate-passed minimum wage legislation, saying the bill’s mix of $8.3 billion in tax breaks and a $2.10 an hour wage hike offers the right economic and political balance.

The Senate, in a 94-3 vote Thursday, passed an increase in the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over two years. The bill also would extend small business tax cuts, close off some corporate tax loopholes and rein in executive compensation.

Labor leaders and many Democrats, however, would like to strip the tax provisions from the bill and only send the minimum wage increase to President Bush for his signature. A House version, passed last month, contains no tax measures.

“I strongly encourage the House to support this combined minimum wage increase and small business tax relief,” Bush said in a statement following the Senate vote.

Democrats and Republicans already were blaming each other for any obstacles to reconciling the House and Senate bills.

“Republicans are demanding billions in corporate tax breaks in exchange for a $2 bump in the minimum wage,” said Gerald W. McEntee, president of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. “As they play their political games, low-income workers continue to wait for their first raise in a decade.”

Source: Yahoo! News