"Obey Continues push for Fedral Minimum Wage Increase—House GOP Leadership is Stonewalling Consideration" The way the House works today, absolutely nothing can be brought to the floor for a house vote unlss we have permission of the majority party leadership to do so. We are asking for a raise to $7.25 an hour by January 1, 2009. However, this president and this congress this year are going to provide fifty billion dollars in tax cuts for people who make more than a million dollars a year. To quote Obey, "A minimum wage increase can lift all boats, not just the yachts."

Seven times since September 11th Democrats have tried to get, through Dave Obey's amendments on the appropriations bills HR #3338, #2555, #4567, #1268, #2360, #4939, and #5441. If they had been successful, our country would now have 6,600 more border patrol agents, 14,000 more detention beds, 2,700 more immigration customs agents, machine-readable visa machines at U.S. consulates and 1,000 additional radiation monitors.

Washingtonian Magazine surveyed 1,200 Capitol Hill staffers for thir September 2006 issue, and Dave Obey was named #1 Workhorse and #1 Straight Shooter in the House. No surprise to any of those who know him or have listened to House proceedings.

Maureen Conboy
Rice Lake, Wisconsin
10 /3/2006