For Immediate Release
June 22, 2006
Contact: Jason McCarty
405.427.3366

Republicans Nickel and Dime Minimum Wage Workers

Republicans in Congress yesterday proved they just don't care about Oklahoma workers and their families, by blocking Democratic proposals to raise the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25. A non-partisan survey, showing that 77 percent of Americans believe raising the minimum wage should be a priority, provides further proof that Republicans are out of touch with the values and priorities of a majority of Americans and Oklahomans.

Oklahoma State Party Chair Lisa Pryor said thousands of Oklahoma workers are struggling to provide a decent living for their families on an indecent minimum wage.
More than 140,000 Oklahomans would benefit from increasing the minimum wage to $7.25, which would make a significant difference in the lives Oklahoma families.

"Oklahoma Republicans continue to play partisan games with Oklahoma working families while totally disregarding the values and priorities of all Americans and putting their party's misplaced values ahead of Oklahoma's working families," Pryor said. "Democrats believe that a fair day's work deserves a fair day's pay, which is why we will continue to fight to increase the minimum wage and will never turn our back on working families."

Oklahoma state legislators are convening this week at the State Capitol for the Special Session. Pryor encouraged Oklahoma voters to contact their Senator and Representative in both Oklahoma City and in Washington DC, to let them know they should join with Democrats who believe that raising the minimum wage is not just a priority but an American value.

Pryor said Oklahoma numbers are staggering - one out of every seven Oklahoma citizens lives below the poverty line.

"We have a moral obligation to do what is right for the people of Oklahoma," Pryor said. "Raising the minimum wage is the right thing to do right now."