Nader and his allies are not just theorizing here. They are outlining strategies , naming names (of Democrats and Republicans) and proposing action.
"To date, 195 House members have signed the petition, meaning only 23 more member signatures are required to bring H.R. 1010 to a vote," argues the Time for a Raise message going into the fall. "There has been insufficient effort by House Democrats, concerned Republicans, labor unions and poverty organizations to mount an effort to find and persuade the 23 House members needed to complete the discharge petition and bring a raise in the federal minimum wage to a vote."
"Time for a Raise" argues that Democratic leaders in the Senate and the House should ramp up the push for a minimum-wage hike as soon as their return to Washington.
Nader and his allies have produced compelling political math.
"To catalyze action," they explain in a new action plan, "the Time for a Raise campaign has identified 55 House members worth pressuring to sign H.R. 1010's discharge petition:
(a) 3 House Democrats who have not co-sponsored H.R. 1010 nor signed it's discharge petition;
(b) 6 House Republicans who signed a letter to then-majority leader Boehner in 2006 arguing that "Nobody working full-time should have to live in poverty";
(c) 17 House Republicans from districts won by President Obama in 2012;
(d) 26 other House Republicans who voted for a minimum wage increase in 2007; and
(e) 3 high-profile House Republican leaders.
Among the House members listed are Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito, a West Virginia US Senate candidate who has advocated in the past for wage hikes, and House Budget Committee chair Paul Ryan, who has been trying to portray himself -- with a new book and speaking tour -- as a compassionate conservative friend of working families. They should both sign the petition, as should House Republicans in swing districts and reluctant Democrats who represent thousands of families that would experience an immediate improvement in their circumstance with a minimum-wage increase. A refusal to sign the petition by candidates of either party sends a "Which Side Are You On?" message to voters that goes far beyond partisanship or ideology as the November 4 election approaches.
But this is not just about Republicans. Democrats have to step up. When the discharge petition was circulated last winter, Wisconsin Congressman Mark Pocan declared, "The minimum wage is woefully inadequate to help keep hard-working people out of poverty. When millions of Americans who work hard and play by the rules cannot support themselves or their families, when they live in poverty, we face an economic crisis. That's why we must raise the minimum wage, which would give 24.5 million Americans and more than 500,000 hard-working Wisconsinites a pay raise and generate $500 million in increased economic activity in our state alone."
That's a powerful message that Pocan has continued to push the issue at every turn, going so far as to propose an amendment to the Republican budget as a vehicle to force a minimum-wage vote.
That's the right idea, and the right level of aggressiveness.
Now, as members of the House return to Washington, Democrats should take up the call -- not as an election issue but as an immediate demand for action. As Nader has illustrated, it is possible to turn the volume up on this issue quickly, and effectively.
Congress should put politics aside and raise the minimum wage. Now!
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
