Wineke Column: 10 Years is too Long

Contact:  Rachel Strauch-Nelson   (608) 255-5172 x 406 (office)   (608) 255-8919 (fax)  

While Working Families Struggle to Make Ends Meet, Mark Green and Republicans in Washington Block Increase in Federal Minimum Wage

MADISON – Sunday, August 20th marked the 10th anniversary of the last time an increase in the federal minimum wage was passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. 

Ten years. 

And for 10 years, Republicans in Washington have blocked Democratic efforts to raise the minimum wage.

Since 1996, the real value of the minimum wage – when adjusted for inflation – has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years.  The real minimum wage was actually higher in 1995 – before the last increase in Congress – than it is now.

And while the real minimum wage is plummeting, health care costs, gas prices, and home heating costs are skyrocketing.

So what has Congressman Mark Green, the Republican candidate for Governor, done about this during his time in Washington?  Absolutely nothing.

Since coming to Washington in 1998, Congressman Green has voted eight times against raising the minimum wage – including three times last month alone.

But Green did vote for a sham minimum wage bill recently passed by Republicans in the U.S. House of Representatives.  Why?  Because an increase in the minimum wage was tied to a massive estate tax break for the wealthiest one percent of Americans.  Green only voted for the bill because he knew it wouldn’t pass through the U.S. Senate – giving him the chance to appear as if he supported working families for his gubernatorial bid in Wisconsin.

The fact is, Congressman Green opposes raising the federal minimum wage.  He has even stated publicly that the minimum wage is “irrelevant” in northeast Wisconsin and a “false issue.”

Somehow, I think the 150,000 Wisconsin workers who would benefit from an increase in the minimum wage might disagree.

While Congressman Green is playing politics with people’s livelihoods in Washington, thousands of Wisconsinites and millions of Americans are struggling to make ends.

Governor Jim Doyle understands these concerns.

Here in Wisconsin, Governor Doyle pushed through the first minimum wage increase in the state in eight years.  Wisconsin’s minimum wage now stands at $6.50 an hour – $1.35 more than the federal minimum wage.

And that’s the difference between Mark Green and Jim Doyle.  While Congressman Green gives away billions of dollars to the big oil companies, the big drug companies, and the wealthiest one percent of Americans, Governor Doyle fights for Wisconsin’s working families.

So this November, Wisconsin voters have a real choice. 

They can vote for a Governor who has fought to ensure a livable wage for all of Wisconsin’s working families.

Or they can vote for Congressman Mark Green, who has voted against increasing the minimum wage at every turn and who has given billions of dollars in tax breaks to his special interest buddies.

Wisconsin families can vote for action, or they can vote for political posturing.

They can vote for Wisconsin values, or they can vote for Washington values.

Given those choices, I am confident Wisconsinites will vote to re-elect Governor Doyle this November.