I want to thank our President. Doubly.

[MannyGoldstein]

President Obama signed an executive order yesterday which raises the minimum wage for federal contractors to $10.10. While that's still not a living wage, it's an important start.

Thank you, Mr. President.

The other wonderful thing is that this minimum wage for contractors also covers Americans with disabilities. Until now, Americans with disabilities could be paid a lower wage than typically-abled Americans. But people with disabilities need to live, too. In fact, they often have extra expenses due to their disabilities.

Nobody in our country, nor on our planet, should be locked into poverty because of where they're born or how nature created or altered them. Bad stuff happens. Human progress is all about our getting better at remediating that stuff. The President's move takes a step in the right direction.

So thank you again, Mr. President.

Now: let's take back our country!

Regards,

First-Way Manny

[ProSense]

1. While the minimum wage

"The other wonderful thing is that this minimum wage for contractors also covers Americans with disabilities. Until now, Americans with disabilities could be paid a lower wage than typically-abled Americans. But people with disabilities need to live, too. In fact, they often have extra expenses due to their disabilities. "

...bill being pushed in Congress includes aspect of the President's proposal, it doesn't appear to include Americans with disabilities.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024496682

After 75 years, the President finally and historically changed this for many. Now, it's time for Congress to act.

It's time to repeal section 14(c) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024425761

[sheshe2]

4. I will take a moment to kick your post here, ProSense!

Already did at your link!

You are awesome!

Ooops so sorry Manny~

[ProSense]

5. The President also

lowered and capped federal contractor executive compensation:

Varied views on new contractor-pay cap

By Josh Hicks

Federal worker unions have applauded a new limit on pay for government contractors, but one industry group has warned that the “arbitrary” cap will cause problems for those who do business with federal agencies.

The restriction, which came as part of the new budget deal Congress and President Obama approved last month, reduced the highest level of contractor compensation from its previous annual limit of $952,000 per individual to $487,000 per individual, a drop of nearly 49 percent.

The Professional Services Council, a group that represents the professional- and technical-services industries, said in a statement on Friday that the rule will “inhibit the ability of companies to attract top talent.”

- more -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2014/01/03/varied-views-on-new-contractor-pay-cap/

Obama pushes to limit federal spending on corporate executive pay
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022927167


Thanks.

[sheshe2]

7. Well

The Professional Services Council, a group that represents the professional- and technical-services industries, said in a statement on Friday that the rule will “inhibit the ability of companies to attract top talent.”

So sad, yet their "top talent" most certainly does not need to be paid $952,000!

Another kick for your post ProSense!

[dougolat]

21. Excellent: limit federal spending on corporate executive pay

That was last May; any progress on that?

It sure would be wonderful news.

[ProSense]

24. It was signed into law. See the first article in the comment. n/t

[sabrina 1]

11. Manny is awesome. But here's the problem with Manny's gratitude, not that this is isn't a good

thing. But so long as Big Corporations get tax breaks and subsidies while they take jobs out of the country, a raise in the minimum wage will only serve to encourage them to take even more jobs out of the country.

Corporations should receive no tax breaks or subsidies when they take jobs to Third World Countries UNLESS they abide by US Labor Laws AND the minimum wage here.

We have been waiting for a long time to fix this problem and so far, other than ONE Democrat who was driven out of office, there has been no effort to fix this problem, which seems like a pretty easy and logical thing to do.

[sheshe2]

13. I agree, ProSense is awesome.

Well anyway we agree to disagree.

And

But so long as Big Corporations get tax breaks and subsidies while they take jobs out of the country, a raise in the minimum wage will only serve to encourage them to take even more jobs out of the country.

So, are you saying the minimum wage should not be raised? I agree that the tax breaks and subsidies for corporations should be gone. Yet you would hold the minimum wage hostage.

You say nothing has been done? No effort? Okay got it.

However~

Obama Raises Minimum Wage for Contract Workers

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/02/13/us/politics/obama-raises-minimum-wage-for-contract-workers.html?_r=0

Nothing!?!???

[sabrina 1]

15. Manny is truly awesome. But while I am happy for any crumbs the working class gets

the major problem has not been addressed.

Are you saying you support subsiding Corporations to take jobs out of the country where they can go to, say, India, and utilize without any prohibitions from this government, WHILE we give them tax breaks and subsidies, factories, such as the one in which workers died in India recently (Walmart eg) where there are NO labor standards they have to abide by?

I would have thought that tragedy alone would have raised the issue of demanding that these Corporations who have been operating their businesses WITH our tax dollars, out of this country, abide by our Labor laws. Now that the minimum wage has been raised, what do you think will happen with these Corps? MORE jobs will be taken to places like that where slave labor is a lot cheaper than our minimum wage.

But you don't agree, well I suppose we can agree to disagree.

[JDPriestly]

18. I agree with you, Sabrina 1, but the President cannot change the tax laws without Congress.

I am so pleased that President Obama has taken the lead on the question of the minimum wage. Hopefully, Congress will be pushed and shamed into following Obama's example.

[sheshe2]

19. Actually what I said was ProSense is Awesome.

And

So, are you saying the minimum wage should not be raised? I agree that the tax breaks and subsidies for corporations should be gone. Yet you would hold the minimum wage hostage.

I said that they should be gone, which indeed includes the shipping jobs overseas. yet you knew that.

I so love it Sabrina, that you put words in my mouth that I never said.

You...

Now that the minimum wage has been raised, what do you think will happen with these Corps? MORE jobs will be taken to places like that where slave labor is a lot cheaper than our minimum wage.

So you prefer the slave labor just stays with the American worker? Because that is damn well what they are living on.

Have a great night, gotta go. I have to go to work tomorrow.

I was hired 7 years ago at a job that paid only a little more than minimum wage. Thank gawd I have commission too, though that is a joke in this economy. I had been unemployed for 5 months. My company went under. It has taken me 7 years with wage freezes to make just over the 10.10 the President is proposing.

Take that to the bank, Sabrina. It sure won't pay for a house over your head. I had to sell mine!

[sabrina 1]

22. I said Manny was awesome, because he is. There are lots of awesome people on DU, although some are

have moved on sadly.

You put words in my mouth, I simply followed your lead. Sorry you don't like it, neither did I. And there you go again, doing exactly what you are complaining about. If you had not put words in my mouth, I would not have returned the favor.

Since the words you wrote are not my words, I won't bother to address them. I guess you prefer that jobs go out of the country rather than make it not worth the effert, THEN raise the minimum wage to a LIVABLE wage once these Corps have no alternative BUT to keep their business here IF they want our tax dollars in subsidies and tax breaks.

I could tell you many stories, about me and people I know. But everything isn't about me. It should be about more than getting crumbs to keep the people struggling but grateful for those crumbs. I want MORE for the working class. I want a livable wage and I don't want our tax dollars going to greedy Corporations to prevent that from happening.

I'm always grateful for crumbs when I am hungry, who wouldn't be? But I would prefer to be in a position where I have higher expectations and where I am not contributing to subsidizing criminals who are abusing people HERE and in Third World Countries. I don't like being 'appeased' and I am pretty certain that so long as we are happy with the little they give us, while they are giving more and more to the greedy, hoarders of money, that's what we will get.

I am glad to see something being done about the minimum wage, but it is still poverty level, isn't it? And as I said, and maybe you are not familiar with the arguments excusing Big Corps taking their business elsewhere, it won't be long before this tiny increase, long, long overdue, will be used by Right Wingers to 'explain' why Big Businesses are sending jobs overseas.

I don't like giving them excuses, I'm for ending their Corporate Welfare and giving it to those who earn it.

[randome]

38. What an AWESOME sub-thread. Truly AWESOME in the AWESOME-IST sense of the word.

You guys.
[hr][font color="blue"][center]Precision and concision. That's the game.[/center][/font][hr]

[ProSense]

26. Thanks, sheshe2

Thanks for your great posts.

[sheshe2]

29. Well as I said...

Thanks ProSense~

[sheshe2]

45. Yes, sabrina. Thank for the crumds

Manny is truly awesome. But while I am happy for any crumbs the working class gets

The working class has become impoverished.

Hope For The City - Twin Cities


young child scrambling to eat crumbs of bread
Monday, May 9, 2011


You can help
When it's summer time families who are less fortunate have difficulties finding food. Lunch box for kids program was created to help those familes in need. Donation is collected on Hope for the City website. There are two federal programs who assist these familles but unfortunately only 13 out of every 100 Minnesotan are provided with food. We need to do better than that! Hope for the city has a goal of 5,000 boxes, which carry 100,000 lunch boxes. They have joined with 5 Eyewitness news to help them reach their goal, but the most important contributer is missing and it is YOU! Make a difference and DONATE!
Posted by WE GOT HOPE...FOR THE CITY! at 7:01 AM

http://hftcproject.blogspot.com/2011/05/you-can-help.html

[sabrina 1]

46. And this is why the minimum wage needs to be a livable wage. $10.10 an hr is not a livable wage.

But those making these decisions are so far removed from the people it has become clear we need to stop electing millionaires whose elections are funded by millionaires and billionaires, and fight their money to get people who actually understand that you cannot feed your family on $10.10 an hr. Iow, people who represent the people.

Your comment underscores my point.

[sheshe2]

48. Well hello!

I stated that, you said you were happy with the crumbs.

$10.10 sucks! Yet better than we were.

Give me the action plan and I will support it.

we need to stop electing millionaires whose elections are funded by millionaires and billionaires,

The supremes are the ones that voted for unlimited funding in elections!

Tell me you action plan sabrina! What do we do?!

[sabrina 1]

49. Make Corporate funding for candidates, POISON. OWS started the conversation about money controlling

this country. Now, rather than just support the Corporate Candidates provided for us, as we have so foolishly done for so long, campaigns now need to focus on 'who is funding this candidate'. There are dozens of very effective Liberal Organizations now who have the infrastructure to start doing this. And millions of us willing to volunteer to do the research on each and every candidate to see and publish, on Campaign Signs, in campaign emails, who their funders are with the question 'who will this candidate represent'?

People are far more aware now of the evil of money in politics. Campaigns should from now on make this a central issue so that candidates who used to boast about how much money they had in their 'war chests' (a disgusting analogy) will be scared to death of that now, that money is going to be held against them.

So many times the Dem Party Leadership has worked to support the most highly funded candidates, while abandoning the more Progressive candidates and we followed often, scared of the 'lesser evil'. Well, I have moved on from that and so have millions of others.

NJ, Christie, Buono is a perfect example and hopefully voters, if not elected officials who endorsed him, will never again make that mistake. The party leadership betrayed their own candidate in favor, not just of a Corporate Candidate, but of a REPUBLICAN. Sick to death of the hypocrisy, while they demand that the voters 'vote democratic, THEY support right leaning, corporate candidates and even Republicans.

I eg, will be looking for the candidates, like Buono, who don't have all that funding. That is a number one issue now for me. I am totally suspicious of anyone who is accepting funding from major Corps and I intend to work to make everyone I know view this as the number one issue to consider when choosing a candidate. And I KNOW I am not alone.

[1StrongBlackMan]

42. Manny signed the Executive Order? ...

Or is Manny "Awesome" because he was able to do someone that completely escapes you?

President Obama acted within his Constitutional authority. If you have beef with Big Corporations getting tax breaks and subsidies ... take it up with those constitutional charged with the ability to do something about it: Congress.

And yes ... it's a pretty easy and logical thing to do from behind your keyboard ... dealing with this congress is a bit more difficult.

[sabrina 1]

47. I have a beef with anyone who thinks that $10.10 an hr is even close to a livable wage.

And I'm not the type to be grateful for crumbs when workers deserve a slice of the big pie this Government has baked for Corporations for decades now, giving them tax breaks and subsidies while refusing to do a few things to make them earn those benefits that come from the working class who are being screwed in every possible way.

1) Any Corp who tries to avoid paying American workers even the pittance they are now paying, by taking their jobs to third world countries MUST abide by US laws, including paying whatever the minimum wage here is. Otherwise, NO tax breaks and no subsidies.

2) Just to make sure they understand why we have labor laws here, hard fought for by the Working Class. It is to ensure that the workers who are responsible for the success of these Corps, here in the US and wherever they take the jobs, earn a livable wage, that wage needs to be raised to at least $18.00 an hr, which still is not enough to raise a family on.

Iow, if they want those tax breaks and subsidies no matter where they take the jobs, they will have to pay OUR mininum wage. If they think they can make more by going overseas with the jobs WITHOUT the tax breaks and subsidies, then let them go, but NOT with our tax dollars.

3) I would impose a tax on Corporations whose working force is outside this country.

Raising the minimum wage to a level that it should have been at 20 years ago, should not be considered a victory for the working class, it is merely an appeasement due to the fact that things are so bad for labor something had to be done.

Maybe I just expect more for those who keep this country going. If you accept crumbs, that's all you're going to get. It's an election year and this is the time to get as much as possible from a Congress that is so out of touch with the people of this country they actually think a family can live on ten dollars an hour.

Actually I'm for Representatives having to live for six months on what they think the people should be able to live on. Or better yet, electing people who don't need to do that, who actually know what it takes to raise a family.

[1StrongBlackMan]

50. That explains the "Manny is Awesome" part of the post ... Yeah, right! ....

everything you've said is correct ... and not far from my thoughts. Where we part company is you're blaming the wrong party (literally and figuratively) ... Congress is the proper party, unless you would be happy with the President operating outside of his constitutional authority. (How would you, as president, unilaterally raise taxes on corporations?)

[sabrina 1]

54. I would have had it on my list of things to get done the minute I was inaugurated, in Jan of 2009.

First thing on my list would have been to stop Corporate Welfare, and I would have pushed for investigations of the fraud and corruption that collapsed the world's economies at the same time, keeping them busy trying to cover up their criminal behavior.

That would have been hugely popular with the public and should never have been put off. Party of why we lost control of the house is because things like that were not done as soon as the voters gave Dems all the power they needed to start fixing these enormous problems.

And don't bother making excuses. We were told in 2006 'we can't do (insert whatever issue) until we win it all. So we did that, then all got were excuses. So what incentive is there NOW to do it all over again, only to be to told 'we need MORE power'. How much more power is there than winning the WH, Congress and the Senate? If Republicans got that power, do you think they would make a single excuse for not getting their agenda in place right off the bat?

What a terrible missed opportunity to deal a blow to the Corporations who have clearly taken over this country.

[1StrongBlackMan]

57. Your anger/frustration is missplaced. eom.

[sabrina 1]

58. Lol, well there are an awful lot of people whose 'anger/frustration is misplaced'. You haven't

explained where I am wrong though, nor has anyone else who appears to think Dems are incapable of doing what Republicans, even in the minority, are more than capable of doing. Not a very good picture to paint of Democrats. I otoh, believe Dems are perfectly capable of getting done what they want to get done and have concluded that they did exactly what THEY wanted, or their Corporate funders wanted. I guess I have more faith in their abilities than those who consistently try to excuse their, formerly, puzzling behavior.

[Autumn]

23. No problem she, I gave Manny's OP a rec.

He is so awesome!

[Rex]

30. What a great idea Autumn!

K&R because Manny is so awesome!

[Autumn]

32. Hey Rex. How goes it? I was thinking of posting how

awesome Manny's OPs and kicking and recing them in OTHER peoples threads but then I thought that is rather trollish and rude. And not to mention, Manny gets enough recs on his OPs without having to have people trolling for them. So I decided not to do that, so I deserve

[Rex]

33. You're right, Manny is loved by the DU community.

I doubt he would mind if I just said how awesome you are Autumn! Might be a little tacky of me, since this is someone else's thread...but YOU are awesome!

[Autumn]

35. YOU are awesome Rex. Been off for a few days. Had a terrible accident, a

cup of coffee ran into my lap top. My Daughter and SIL bought me a new lap top. Windows 8.1 WTF??? Why do they call those things charms and why can't I find an undo? Bu I do LOVE the App store

[Rex]

36. Yikes!

Sorry hope you did not burn yourself! OUCH! I am very sorry you have Win 8.1 - it looks like Windows Media Player threw up from a bad hangover!

[Autumn]

39. I haven't gotten that far yet. The only burn was to my Toshiba

I miss it. My daughter assures me 8.1 doesn't suck as bad as it looks. You know I think there's a metaphor in that.

[Rex]

40. You can turn off that annoying beginning window, they wanted it so desperately

to compete with ipads...sigh...Windows 7 is great there was no need for a craptacular new OS! Glad you avoided getting burnt!

[sheshe2]

44. Well good for you Autumn.

I can see that you are so very proud of that!

Damn, but ProSense is awesome and has the best facts on the board!

[JustAnotherGen]

51. Amen to that

And the information is always presented with a matter of fact approach and with transparent POSITIVE intent.

[sheshe2]

59. Transparent POSITIVE intent.

Bingo!

[Cali_Democrat]

2. Obama: 'Nobody who works full-time should have to live in poverty

Now lets work to get the minimum wage raised for ALL workers.

The first step? GOTV 2014 and get Republicans out of office so they can no longer obstruct!

[sabrina 1]

16. $10.10 an hour IS poverty. I have a theory about elected officials.

If they decide they want to go to war, they must lead the troops into the battlefield along with their own families. If a war is worth fighting, that should not be a problem.

If they decide that a certain amount of money is a livable wage, they and their loved ones should have to live on that salary.

No elected official should be protected from the laws that apply to the general public. Eg, if they support installing Naked Scanners in airports, they and their families should be required to go through them.

If they vote for drug testing for employment, they should have to be drug tested.

No elected official should be able to impose laws on the general public that they themselves are not also required to live by.

I doubt elected office would be as popular as it is right now if they all had to live by the standards they set for the rest of us. But those who did seek it, would be very careful about what laws they passed.

[RobertEarl]

3. He's also working on the spies

And he managed to out-fox the republicans on the budget.

Alas, he had to come off his high horse of Purity and allow unemployment bennies to be taken away, but that could be said he was Pragmatic? But not pragmatic by those who now not only can't find a job but have even less of a safety net, eh?

[Cali_Democrat]

6. You've....

...been fed misinformation and propaganda.

GOPers are blocking the extension of unemployment aid:

http://mobile.philly.com/news/?wss=/philly/news&id=244113171

[RobertEarl]

17. Obama signed it

He could have vetoed the bill. That would have been cool as all get out.

Alas, he signed it and now some kids are gonna go hungry.

He also signed the DoD bill that spent buckoo bucks for bombs. Or is all that just too much for you to hear? Would you rather just go on believing Obama is powerless? I believe he is not exercising the power he has.

[fadedrose]

8. His hands aren't tied any more

He doesn't have to face another election so he may make up for a lot of omissions in the first term....and 3 years to go.

Nice post, Manny.

[rhett o rick]

9. I agree it's a start, but how sad it's limited to $10.10. Why not $12 or $14? Who is hurt? nm

[Skittles]

10. but.....THEY claim we never credit him for ANYTHING!!!

*contrary to ALL evidence*

good move, President Obama

[grahamhgreen]

12. It's a start:) One thumb up!

[passiveporcupine]

14. that is such good new about the AWD

I didn't know that was going to be in the bill. I've very very glad to hear that.

[jsr]

20. +1.

[TheKentuckian]

25. Credit where credit is due, this is a positive step. Bravo Mr. President!

[bvar22]

27. I am delighted to be able to commend our President on this,

....though it is only a crumb,
it is a step in the right direction,
and is a gesture that may help us elect Democrats in 2014.

DURec!

[ProSense]

28. Over 600 Economists Sign Letter In Support of $10.10 Minimum Wage

Over 600 Economists Sign Letter In Support of $10.10 Minimum Wage

Over 600 PhD economists have signed an open letter—initiated by Economic Policy Institute President Lawrence Mishel and Harvard University professor Lawrence Katz—to the president and Congress in support of the Harkin-Miller Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2013. Signatories include 7 Nobel Prize winners and 8 former presidents of the American Economic Association.

The letter urges lawmakers to immediately enact a three-step raise of 95 cents a year for three years, which would mean a minimum wage of $10.10 by 2016, and then index it to protect against inflation. This increase would mean that minimum-wage workers who work full time, full year would see a raise from their current salary of roughly $15,000 to roughly $21,000. The proposals would also raise the tipped minimum wage to 70 percent of the regular minimum wage.

“The fact that so many economists support this legislation makes it a no-brainer for Congress,” said Mishel. “Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 would restore the value that it’s lost to inflation over the years, giving working families a raise while providing modest economic stimulus.”

President Obama has endorsed the Harkin-Miller bill and is expected to call for an increase to the minimum wage in his upcoming State of the Union address.

http://www.epi.org/press/600-economists-sign-letter-support-10-10/

Economist Statement on the Federal Minimum Wage

Dear Mr. President, Speaker Boehner, Majority Leader Reid, Congressman Cantor, Senator McConnell, and Congresswoman Pelosi:

July will mark five years since the federal minimum wage was last raised. We urge you to act now and enact a three-step raise of 95 cents a year for three years—which would mean a minimum wage of $10.10 by 2016—and then index it to protect against inflation. Senator Tom Harkin and Representative George Miller have introduced legislation to accomplish this. The increase to $10.10 would mean that minimum-wage workers who work full time, full year would see a raise from their current salary of roughly $15,000 to roughly $21,000. These proposals also usefully raise the tipped minimum wage to 70% of the regular minimum.

This policy would directly provide higher wages for close to 17 million workers by 2016. Furthermore, another 11 million workers whose wages are just above the new minimum would likely see a wage increase through “spillover” effects, as employers adjust their internal wage ladders. The vast majority of employees who would benefit are adults in working families, disproportionately women, who work at least 20 hours a week and depend on these earnings to make ends meet. At a time when persistent high unemployment is putting enormous downward pressure on wages, such a minimum-wage increase would provide a much-needed boost to the earnings of low-wage workers.

In recent years there have been important developments in the academic literature on the effect of increases in the minimum wage on employment, with the weight of evidence now showing that increases in the minimum wage have had little or no negative effect on the employment of minimum-wage workers, even during times of weakness in the labor market. Research suggests that a minimum-wage increase could have a small stimulative effect on the economy as low-wage workers spend their additional earnings, raising demand and job growth, and providing some help on the jobs front.

Sincerely,

- more -

http://www.epi.org/minimum-wage-statement/

[Doctor_J]

31. I don't understand why only 1010 if he's acting unilaterally

But at least it's a symbolic slap at the teabaggers

[ProSense]

34. Weekly Address: Calling on Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage

Weekly Address: Calling on Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10024504040

[pampango]

37. Nice, Manny. "Nobody in our country, nor on our planet, should be locked into poverty because of

where they're born or how nature created or altered them. Bad stuff happens. Human progress is all about our getting better at remediating that stuff."

In 1870 global inequality was mainly a function of what class you were born into. That is still a factor, but the the largest factor in global inequality now is where you are born.



http://gulzar05.blogspot.com/2013/11/measuring-global-inequality.html

[rbrnmw]

41. I hope he does something for the children

executively like the ones on SSI and food stamps aka (SNAP) which have suffered MASSIVE cuts which are not only wrong they are unbecoming of a civilized society and plain wrong. Which our Democrat Members signed with glee. I'm sick of kids getting the shaft while fat-cats get to count on more money than they already have thanks to their dear Uncle Sam.
ps President Obama benefitted from Food Stamps I wonder if he remembers that type of hunger I guess not

[1StrongBlackMan]

43. What can Prsident Obama do executively ...

on SSI or SNAP?

[JustAnotherGen]

52. Fair point

Good question.

[1StrongBlackMan]

53. I mean ...

I appreciate the frustration most of us feel when we see those with the least, suffer; but much of the frustration is misplaced (if we take the current constitutional structure of government, as a given).

While President Obama COULD issue an Executive Order saying whatever, as we saw with the closure of GITMO, Congress must act, in order to effectuate the Order.

[JustAnotherGen]

56. He just one human being

Neither you nor I hold him up an as all powerful oppresive dictator with ill will towards the American population. So the idea that he could just do whatever he wanted with the stroke of a pen is foreign to us.