Governor Doyle, Senator Feingold Highlight Difference on Minimum Wage

Green Voted Eight Times Against Raising the Federal Minimum Wage – But Took $28,000 in Pay Raises for Himself

KAUKAUNA – Governor Jim Doyle and U.S. Senator Russ Feingold today highlighted a key difference in the race for Governor: the minimum wage.  Governor Doyle raised the state’s minimum wage twice in the last four years – from $5.15 an hour to $6.50 an hour – while Congressman Mark Green has voted against increasing the federal minimum wage eight times.

“The difference in this race couldn’t be clearer: Governor Doyle raised the minimum wage twice, while Congressman Green voted against it eight times,” Senator Feingold said.  “From creating new jobs to expanding access to health care to raising the minimum wage, Governor Doyle has consistently fought for working families.  By standing with George W. Bush and the Republican Congress, Mark Green just hasn’t been on our side.”

“I believe a Governor should be looking out for all of us, not just the powerful special interests,” Governor Doyle said.  “And I believe our lowest paid workers shouldn’t have to wait eight years to get a raise.  That’s the difference.” 

In 2004, Governor Doyle brought together business and labor leaders to achieve a minimum wage increase for Wisconsin workers.  Starting in June 2005, the minimum wage in Wisconsin[Governor Doyle Press Release, 5/31/06] has gone up twice.  The state minimum wage is now $1.35 more than the federal minimum wage. 

In Washington, Congressman Green voted against an increase in the federal minimum wage eight times, despite Congressional salaries being raised $28,500 during his time in Congress.  [HR2389, Vote 382, 7/19/06; HR2990, Vote 364, 7/12/06; S250, Vote 366, 7/12/06; HCR440, Vote 353, 6/29/06; HR5672, Vote 319, 6/27/06; HR 5638, Vote 313, 6/22/06; HR5638, Vote 308, 6/22/06; HR3846, Vote 43, 3/9/2000; CRS Report, http://www.senate.gov/reference/resources/pdf/97-1011.pdf]

Congressman Green has said the minimum wage is “an irrelevant issue,” suggesting that not many people would be helped.  In reality, 124,000 people in Wisconsin would have benefited from the minimum wage increase he voted against.  [Sources: Green Bay Press-Gazette, 12/12/99; Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, http://www.cbpp.org/8-2-06tax3.htm]

Recently, the Republican Congressional leadership tried to give themselves some cover by staging a vote that was tied to billions in tax breaks for the wealthiest Americans.  The Appleton Post Crescent appropriately called it a “cynical ploy.”  [Source: Appleton Post Crescent, 8/2/06]  With this vote, Congress said that working people could get a raise only after the super rich have gotten a huge tax subsidy.

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