CNN is reporting on the proposals to raise the minimum wage and along with that, bankruptcy and flex-time proposals.
The plan from Sen. Rick Santorum, R-Pennsylvania, also includes tax and regulatory breaks for small businesses. His amendment would lift the minimum wage by $1.10 over 18 months, in two steps of 55 cents.
The rival proposal from Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Massachusetts, would boost the wage to $7.25 in three increments over 26 months.
Frankly, I hate any raising of the minimum wage (I think the whole idea of the minimum wage blows) but understand the political realities. I believe Senator Kennedy has ZERO idea about how businesses are run. This forces the small taco shop type businesses to raise prices to keep in the black. Everyone loses, including the cutting of staff which leads to cutting corners on things like food safety. I'm sure Senator Kennedy has a ton of experience in the real world so understands how this hurts but doesn't help.
Santorum's proposal contains an idea that Republicans have advocated, without success, for years: "flex-time," which gives employees the option of shifting their work hours over a two-week period. Supporters say this would allow workers to adjust their schedules to meet family needs.
Kennedy said this would end the 40-hour work week by denying workers overtime pay for up to 10 hours every two weeks.
Fortunately for me, I'm not tied to big labor and can work flex-time anytime I need to. It allows me to attend School Site Council meetings, go on field trips with my kids, help with Little League, deal with sickness, etc. In Kennedy's world, folks who are subject to these silly laws must take sick time or vacation time to deal with the above type of issues. If they work extra on another day, they'll get paid overtime but will have lost the sick/vacation time.
During the same eight-year period, members of Congress have raised their own salaries seven times, by a total of $28,500, he said.
Talk about a waste of money!
Posted by Tim at March 5, 2005 09:45 PM
