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122243136
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[Folder 2] [Minimum Wage]
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[Folder 2] [Minimum Wage]
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Records of the Office of the Public Liaison (Clinton Administration)
Alexis Herman's Files
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FOIA Number: 2016-0531-F
FOIA
MARKER
This is not a textual record. This is used as an
administrative marker by the William J. Clinton
Presidential Library Staff.
Collection/Record Group:
Clinton Presidential Records
Subgroup/Office of Origin:
Public Liaison
Series/Staff Member:
Alexis Herman/Ruby Moy
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OA/ID Number:
7663
FolderID:
Folder Title:
[Folder 2] [Minimum Wage]
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Section:
Shelf:
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S
30
3
8
3
Daily Talking Points
DPC
Today's Contact: Lauren Griffin PHONE (202) 224-3232 FAX (202) 228-3432
Congress has Opportunity to Beat the Clock on
Minimum Wage and Health Care Portability
Friday, July 26, 1996
"[T]wo of the very big pieces of our action agenda, paycheck security and health
security, are breathing new life again. We're very pleased with the development
yesterday, and very hopeful that at some point in the not too-distant future, we
will pass the minimum wage bill and the portability bill."
-Democratic Leader Tom Daschle, July 26, 1996.
As the clock continues to tick and the Congressional August recess approaches, a major impasse
was broken last night paving the way for final Congressional action on minimum wage and health
care portability bills. Thanks to Democratic efforts, these two important pieces of the Democratic
Agenda for American families will become law before Labor Day.
Democrats' Determination Pays Off for Working Families. For nearly 18 months, Demo-
crats in the Senate have been pushing to get a raise for American workers. Republicans began
the 104th Congress with their "Contract" to provide tax breaks for the rich and special interests
while cutting Medicare, education and the environment.
Health Care Portability on the Horizon. Another Democratic priority, making health insurance
more portable and limiting exclusions on preexisting conditions, also appears attainable.
Democrats, led by Senator Ted Kennedy, refused GOP demands to Include special interest
perks in an otherwise bi-partisan bill.
Again, Democratic efforts to provide help to working families is paying off: Democrats
reached an agreement with Republicans to resolve controversial issues in a bipartisan
manner-soon families will have peace of mind-they won't lose their health insurance even if
they leave or lose their job.
Democratic Policy Committee
United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20510-7050
Tom Daschle, Chairman
DPC
Harry Reid, Co-Chairman
IT'S TIME TO RAISE THE MINIMUM WAGE
THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP SHOULD DROP THEIR POISON PILL AMENDMENT
July 3, 1996
IT'S TIME FOR SENATE REPUBLICANS TO JOIN THE MAINSTREAM AND RAISE THE
MINIMUM WAGE. If we want to make work pay, we must make the minimum wage a living wage.
President Clinton's minimum wage increase would ensure that -- along with his expanded Earned Income
Tax Credit no parent who works full-time would have to raise their children in poverty. A bipartisan
group in the House has done their part and voted to raise the minimum wage. The time for the Senate
Republicans to do the same is long overdue.
MAIN STREET AMERICA DESERVES AN HONEST VOTE ON THE MINIMUM WAGE
WITHOUT ANY POISON PILLS. The Senate should pass an increase in the minimum wage -- with
no poison pills, no gimmicks, and no political games. That's the best way to help the American people
make the most out of their own lives. As Republican Congressman Amo Houghton said: "This is not a
complicated issue. It should not be a partisan issue. It's timely. It's right, and I think we should do it."
DON'T LET REPUBLICAN LEADERS FOOL YOU -- THEIR POISON PILL AMENDMENT TO
A GOOD MINIMUM WAGE BILL WILL DENY A PAY RAISE TO MILLIONS OF WORKERS.
The Senate Republican leadership offers the American people nothing more than a cruel shell game: claim
that you are raising the minimum wage, but stick millions of first-rate workers with second-rate pay.
IF THE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP INSIST ON INCLUDING ANY OF THE FOLLOWING
POISON PILL AMENDMENTS, THE PRESIDENT WILL VETO THE BILL:
Workers In Two-Thirds Of All Businesses Would Be Denied The Benefits Of A Higher
Minimum Wage. The Republican leadership would deny workers in two-thirds of all firms in the
United States -- all business with revenues of less than $500,000 annually -- an increase in the
minimum wage. For these workers, this provision would lock in, for an indefinite period, a
minimum wage that will be at a 40-year low in real terms. It doesn't matter the size of your
employer, you can't raise a family on $4.25 an hour.
Over 4 Million Hard-Working Americans Would Be Denied A Pay Raise. The Republican's
so-called "Opportunity Wage" provision would deny the opportunity of a higher minimum wage to
the 4.1 million workers at or near the minimum wage who have been with their employer for less
than six months. In industries with high turnover -- like retail -- this would create the opportunity
for employers to drop workers after six months, so that they would never graduate from the sub-
minimum wage.
Low-Wage Workers Would Have To Wait Until Next Year For Pay Hike. As the real value of
the minimum wage approaches a 40-year low, the Republican leadership wants to force America's
lowest-paid workers to wait until next year to see any minimum wage increase. While President
Clinton says now is the time to raise the minimum wage, the Republicans are telling America's
workers to wait. The Republican's six-month delay will cost a full-time minimum wage worker
$878. When you're making only $8,500 a year, $878 makes a big difference.
EVERY DAY THE SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP DELAYS A HONEST MINIMUM
WAGE INCREASE, ITS REAL VALUE MOVES CLOSER TO A 40-YEAR LOW. The American
people want the minimum wage increased. A bipartisan majority in the Senate wants the minimum wage
increased. If we truly value work and family, we should raise the value of the minimum wage now.
DON'T LET REPUBLICAN LEADERS FOOL YOU:
THEIR POISON PILL MINIMUM WAGE AMENDMENT WILL STICK MILLIONS
OF FIRST-RATE WORKERS WITH SECOND-RATE PAY
INSTEAD OF JUST PASSING A CLEAN, SIMPLE MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE, THE
SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADERSHIP WANTS A POISON PILL AMENDMENT THAT WILL
DENY MILLIONS OF WORKERS A PAY RAISE. President Clinton is determined to raise the
minimum wage for all workers who deserve and need it. If they send him a bill with poison pills, he will
veto it:
Workers In Two-Thirds Of All Businesses Would Be Denied The Benefits Of A Higher
Minimum Wage.
The Senate Republican leadership's amendment would deny workers in two-thirds of all firms in
the United States -- all business with revenues of less than $500,000 annually -- an increase in
the minimum wage.
This provision is far more extreme than any previous small business exemption. It is true that
prior to 1989 there was an exemption for employees in small retail and service establishments.
But the Republican's current proposal would not only exempt workers in small retail and service
firms, but would deny a higher minimum wage to all workers in two-thirds of America's
businesses, including many garment industry sweatshop workers, farmworkers, and janitorial
workers.
For workers in small businesses, this provision would lock in, for an indefinite period, a
minimum wage that will be at a 40-year low in real terms. It doesn't matter the size of your
employer, you can't raise a family on $4.25 an hour.
Over 4 Million Hard-Working Americans Would Be Denied A Pay Raise:
The Senate Republican's so-called "Opportunity Wage" provision could deny a higher minimum
wage to the 4.1 million workers at or near the minimum wage who have been with their
employer for less than six months. Under this provision any new hire of any employer,
regardless of prior work experience, could be paid a sub-minimum wage for the first sixth
months of employment.
This is a more extreme provision than the House-passed minimum wage increase. The House-
passed bill -- which the Administration strongly opposes -- applied a sub-minimum wage for
workers under age 20 for their first 90 days with an employer. This amendment, by contrast,
would deny a higher minimum wage to all workers for the first 180 days of employment.
In industries with high turnover -- like retail -- this would create the opportunity for employers
to drop workers after six months, SO that they would never graduate from the sub-minimum
wage. And the anti-displacement provisions, intended to prohibit employers from dropping
workers in a perpetual "churning" fashion, will prove to be extremely difficult to enforce.
Low-Wage Workers Would Have To Wait Until Next Year For Pay Hike.
The Republican leadership would put off the first stage of a minimum wage increase until
January 1, 1997. As the real value of the minimum wage approaches a 40-year low, the
Republican leadership wants to force our lowest-paid workers to wait until next year to see any
minimum wage increase. President Clinton is determined to not let the minimum wage reach a
40-year low and will veto any bill that will let that happen.
PRESIDENT CLINTON ALSO STRONGLY OPPOSES REPUBLICAN MEASURES TO DENY
PAY INCREASES TO OTHER WORKERS:
"Tipped Employees" Such As Waiters and Waitresses Would Be Denied A Pay Raise.
The Republican leadership would freeze the minimum wage for "tipped employees" such as
waiters, waitresses, and delivery people at $2.13 an hour, thus denying any current or future
minimum wage increase to these workers.
The impact of this tip credit amendment hits women particularly hard; about 80 percent of tipped
workers are women.
Tipped workers would receive a 45-cents an hour pay increase with the President's proposal. To
many of these workers struggling to make ends meet, this small sum can make the difference
between getting by and slipping through the cracks.