Tell Your U.S. Representative to Get Real. Demand a REAL Vote to Raise the Minimum Wage.

The only thing stopping minimum-wage workers from getting a $2.10-an-hour pay raise is the unwillingness of the Republican leadership of Congress to allow consideration of a "clean" minimum-wage bill with no poison pills and no strings attached.

In July, 48 House Republicans, including your representative, signed a letter asking their party’s leaders to schedule a vote to increase the minimum wage by $2.10 an hour, to $7.25. Were they serious? Or were they playing politics?

 

These representatives have the power to force a vote to raise the minimum wage. To get the bill to the floor, we need 218 signatures on a discharge petition, and we have 192 signatures now. Just 26 more signatures will mean a House vote to lift working families from poverty by increasing the minimum wage.

 

Minimum-wage workers have waited a decade for a raise. But Republican congressional leaders have blocked it by tying minimum-wage legislation to unjust and unwinnable measures like a tax cut for the estates of rich people like Paris Hilton and the Wal-Mart heirs.

Tell your representative to get real—sign the discharge petition to force a clean vote on a minimum-wage increase. Send the following message:

  • Reject any cynical effort to tie an estate tax cut to a minimum-wage increase.
  • What we need is a clean vote to raise the minimum wage.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Sign the Discharge Petition for H.R. 2429

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

Back in July, you signed a letter urging House leaders to schedule a vote to increase the minimum wage. Were you serious? Or was that just talk?

You have the power to bring about a vote to increase the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour--with no poison pills attached that would kill the measure again. If you are serious about wanting a vote to increase the minimum wage and not just playing politics, I urge you to sign the discharge petition to bring H.R. 2429 to the House floor for a vote now, before Congress recesses to campaign.

Minimum-wage workers have been waiting a decade for a raise that can help lift their families out of poverty. I have been appalled by the cruel political games we've seen to block a minimum-wage increase--such as holding the increase hostage to budget-busting estate tax breaks for the very rich. Minimum-wage workers should not have to get in line behind Paris Hilton and the Wal-Mart heirs to receive the long-overdue pay increase they rightly deserve.

Please show that you were serious about wanting a "clean" vote to increase the minimum wage. Sign the discharge petition for H.R. 2429 today.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
September 26, 2006


Background Information

The only thing stopping minimum-wage workers from getting a $2.10-an-hour pay raise is the unwillingness of the Republican leadership of Congress to allow consideration of a "clean" minimum-wage bill with no poison pills and no strings attached.

In July, 48 House Republicans, including your representative, signed a letter asking their party's leaders to schedule a vote to increase the minimum wage by $2.10 an hour, to $7.25. Were they serious? Or were they playing politics?

These representatives have the power to force a vote to raise the minimum wage. To get the bill to the floor, we need 218 signatures on a discharge petition, and we have 192 signatures now. Just 26 more signatures will mean a House vote to lift working families from poverty by increasing the minimum wage.

Minimum-wage workers have waited a decade for a raise. But Republican congressional leaders have blocked it by tying minimum-wage legislation to unjust and unwinnable measures like a tax cut for the estates of rich people like Paris Hilton and the Wal-Mart heirs.

Tell your representative to get real--sign the discharge petition to force a clean vote on a minimum-wage increase. Send the following message:

* Reject any cynical effort to tie an estate tax cut to a minimum-wage increase.
* What we need is a clean vote to raise the minimum wage.