[NOW Action List] Keep Fighting for a Minimum Wage Increase

Support NOW's Work |	August 8, 2006	| Tell a Friend

All NOW Actions More About Economic Equity		We Stopped the Estate Tax for Now Now Let's Raise the Minimum Wage We did it! Last minute calls and determined advocacy on behalf of women, children and hard-working families convinced Senators to vote against the treasury-raiding Estate Tax Repeal. On August 3, the Senate defeated 56-42 the motion to close debate (cloture) on H.R. 5970. The Senate leadership needed 60 votes to bring the bill to the floor for a vote, but failed to capture enough votes with their ruse to raise the minimum wage in exchange for excusing 8,000 rich families from paying taxes on their estates. Senate Majority Leader Frist (R-TN) voted against the motion only so he can bring the whole issue back to the Senate floor this fall, so our victory is only temporary. Several Senators crossed party lines with their votes. Senators Chafee (R-RI) and Voinovich (R-OH) voted with NOW and against the cloture motion while Nelson (D-FL), Nelson (D-NE), Lincoln (D-AR) and Byrd (D-WV) voted for cloture, which was a clear indication that they also supported the bill. Because this bill is not dead, it is extremely important that we thank the Senators who voted with us and continue to put pressure on those who did not. We also must continue to demand support and votes on a free-standing minimum wage bill. Although H.R. 5970 did include a provision to increase the minimum wage, the totality of the package would have harmed minimum and low wage workers and families rather than helped them. Take Action: Write Your Senators For more info: Background on the bill is available from the alert we sent out prior to the vote GOP Bid on Wages, Estate Tax is Blocked
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