posted on January 12, 2007 12:14:21 PM new
GOP hits Pelosi's 'hypocrisy' on wage bill
By Charles Hurt
THE WASHINGTON TIMES
January 12, 2007
House Republicans yesterday declared "something fishy" about the major tuna company in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's San Francisco district being exempted from the minimum-wage increase that Democrats approved this week.
"I am shocked," said Rep. Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican and his party's chief deputy whip, noting that Mrs. Pelosi campaigned heavily on promises of honest government. "Now we find out that she is exempting hometown companies from minimum wage. This is exactly the hypocrisy and double talk that we have come to expect from the Democrats."
On Wednesday, the House voted to raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 per hour.
The bill also extends for the first time the federal minimum wage to the U.S. territory of the Northern Mariana Islands. However, it exempts American Samoa, another Pacific island territory that would become the only U.S. territory not subject to federal minimum-wage laws.
One of the biggest opponents of the federal minimum wage in Samoa is StarKist Tuna, which owns one of the two packing plants that together employ more than 5,000 Samoans, or nearly 75 percent of the island's work force. StarKist's parent company, Del Monte Corp., has headquarters in San Francisco, which is represented by Mrs. Pelosi. The other plant belongs to California-based Chicken of the Sea.
"There's something fishy going on here," said Rep. Patrick T. McHenry, North Carolina Republican.
During the House debate yesterday on stem-cell research, Mr. McHenry raised a parliamentary inquiry as to whether an amendment could be offered that would exempt American Samoa from stem-cell research, "just as it was for the minimum-wage bill."
A clearly perturbed Rep. Barney Frank, the Massachusetts Democrat who was presiding, cut off Mr. McHenry and shouted, "No, it would not be."
"So, the chair is saying I may not offer an amendment exempting American Samoa?" Mr. McHenry pressed.
"The gentleman is making a speech and will sustain," Mr. Frank shouted as he slammed his large wooden gavel against the rostrum.
Some Republicans who voted in favor of the minimum-wage bill were particularly irritated to learn yesterday -- after their vote -- that the legislation did not include American Samoa.
"I was troubled to learn of this exemption," said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. "My intention was to raise the minimum wage for everyone. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."
A spokeswoman for Mrs. Pelosi said Wednesday that the speaker has not been lobbied in any way by StarKist or Del Monte.
"“More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they don’t get the New York Times over there.”—Jay Leno".
posted on January 12, 2007 12:42:20 PM new
FNC Reports Speaker Pelosi's Star-Kist Gap in the Minimum Wage Hike
Posted by Tim Graham on January 12, 2007 - 10:36.
Over at The Corner, Kathryn Jean Lopez reported GOP Reps. Eric Cantor and Patrick McHenry have found there's a loophole in the new minimum-wage increase: no hike for American Samoa. Why? Star-Kist Tuna is a major employer there, with its headquarters in Speaker Nancy Pelosi's district.
Will the media notice? FNC did. But so far, the rest of the political media have treated the minimum-wage as about as controversial as a post-office naming bill. But in 2005, we reported the media's Tom DeLay bashers had a fit about DeLay's Abramoff-lobbied coziness with low wages on the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific. PBS's Bill Moyers show "Now" (handed off to the suitably smarmy David Brancaccio) devoted a show to how DeLay was supporting "virtual slavery" in the Pacific. The slavery charge came not only from Brancaccio, but from liberal Rep. George Miller -- Pelosi's across-the-bay neighbor. Where's the media asking: what about the children of Samoa? Will PBS and George Miller throw a fit about the "virtual slavery" left untouched in Tuna Land?
K-Lo passed along the Fox & Friends transcript that publicized the Star-Kist .
STEVE DOOCEY: We teased you with this a moment ago. On Wednesday the U.S. House passed a bill that says the minimum wage in this country will rise over time from $5.15 an hour to $7.25. Now, here's the thing. Included in the small print is the fact that the minimum wage will now include the islands of the northern marinas but it exempts American Samoa which is the only U.S. Territory not subject to minimum wage laws.
BRIAN KILMEADE: What's the big deal about that?
DOOCEY: It covers all islands except American Samoa. Why American Samoa?
GRETCHEN CARLSON: It just so happens Steve that Star Kist tuna employs 75% of the island's work force. They are making a lot of tuna there. Apparently then that is shipped off to San Francisco in a district where Nancy Pelosi is from. And now her people are saying that, you know, she has never been influenced by Star Kist at all but other people are saying, hey, this is a little bit of hypocrisy because how can this particular group of people benefit by not having to pay the new minimum wage which is almost $2 more an hour before.
KILMEADE: They have two major plants there and then all of a sudden they don't have to pay this money and this is a woman I'm going to fight corruption and things on the up and up and make things transparent. Reps. Eric Cantor and Patrick McHenry are beside themselves. Cantor says he is shocked. Now Patrick McHenry when he realizes this, hopped up on the Senate floor, says wait a second have you exempted the American Samoa you have included all these other regions and territories, everything else? When they started debating stem cell research, excuse me based on this is American Samoa going to be excluded from stem cell research? And Barney Frank went crazy said to him sit down essentially. Continue with your talk that had nothing to do with stem cell research in American Samoa.
DOOCEY: So in American Samoa they have a lot of tuna. It's processed by Star Kist, which is, their headquarters is actually in San Francisco because Star Kist is owned by the food conglomerate Del Monte which is in Nancy Pelosi's home district. Are you connecting the dots? Let's get this straight. Everybody has got to raise their minimum wage except American Samoa which, of course, has so many people who are pulling tuna out of the sea, shipping them off via Del Monte whose corporate headquarters in Nancy Pelosi's home district. I'm sure it's a coincidence. Don't you think?
"“More Iraqis think things are going well in Iraq than Americans do. I guess they don’t get the New York Times over there.”—Jay Leno".
posted on January 12, 2007 12:57:50 PM new
No surprise there.
It's called 'doing favors' for more campaign contributions down the road. tsk tsk tsk
And they WERE going to show America they're so much more ethical.....right.
Favortism shows LOUD and CLEAR to all who choose to see her hyprocricy.
Anyone knows that a company that is FORCED to pay min. wage will have a harder time being competative in the market...than one that has a 'friend like pelosi' in politics that can make sure HER supporters won't have to.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 12, 2007 05:12:37 PM new
I think Bear and Crybaby_K are worried that they will not be getting a minimum wage increase at their current jobs.
The Repugs should actually read a bill before voting for it. Perhaps that would solve some of their problems.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on January 12, 2007 07:20:03 PM new
There logansdad goes again....making things up...as they 'come' to his mind.
I'm sure he can prove that either bear or myself are earning min. wage.
NOT.....
and since I have NEVER supported raising the min. wage....I see it as doing more damage than good....I would NEVER be upset about 'not getting it'.
I think logansdad has a BIG problem with comprehension....to say the least.
Secondly....I'm getting the feeling that both "waco"peepa and logansdad are under some FALSE impression that BOTH houses have passed this bill.
LOL LOL LOL
Sounds to me like they both believe it's all FINAL.
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 12, 2007 08:35:11 PM new
Somebody mention the Marianas ??
Oh, the place where the women workers are forced to have ABORTIONS and TOM DELAY A REPUBLICAN said the factory owners were a shining example of American business?
Those marianas ?
YUP, the same Marianas that abuse their workers under the approval of REPUBLICANS. The same Marianas workers who Clinton tried to help with reform bills that were shot down by REPUBLICANS who LIKE abortions if they mean more money for their friends?
posted on January 13, 2007 05:14:58 AM new
"Somebody mention the Marianas ??"
I remember the Marianas-I passed thru there on my way to Vietnam in Nov 1965.21 years before
that, the place was known for "the great Marianas turkey shoot", where we shot down over 400 Japanese planes.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
[ edited by classicrock000 on Jan 13, 2007 05:18 AM ]
posted on January 13, 2007 07:47:00 AM newSecondly....I'm getting the feeling that both "waco"peepa and logansdad are under some FALSE impression that BOTH houses have passed this bill.
I think it is Linda that is misunderstood. Bear's post and her reply make it seem like this is already passed. Of course the Senate has not even voted on it yet so Bear's little post about American Samoa being excluded is a mute point right now.
and since I have NEVER supported raising the min. wage....I see it as doing more damage than good....I would NEVER be upset about 'not getting it'.
I bet all the workers in the chicken plucking plants near your home will be upset that you say this.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
Of course the Senate has not even voted on it yet so Bear's little post about American Samoa being excluded is a mute point right now.
Isnt it a DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED Senate & House that PASSED IT?
"When I talk to liberals, I don't expect them to understand my positions on various issues. I spend most of my time trying to help them understand their own." —Mike Adams
posted on January 13, 2007 08:29:26 AM new
OH THIS IS RICH !!!
From a REPUBLICAN after 6 years of the bush administrations shenanigans.....
""""said Rep. Mark Steven Kirk, Illinois Republican. We shouldn't permit any special favors or exemptions that are not widely discussed in Congress. This is the problem with rushing legislation through without full debate."""""
I guess the Democrats must've learned THAT from the last 6 years !
posted on January 13, 2007 12:10:53 PM newThats the point, you dont.
Nice statement coming from the person that thinks people in Canada speak Canadian. So Bear what is your IQ if you so smart?
Isnt it a DEMOCRATIC CONTROLLED Senate & House that PASSED IT?
Regardless of this passes in the Senate, Bush supports an increase. Not to mention there are already some states that have state minimum wages that are currently higher than what is set by the federal government.
Absolute faith has been shown, consistently, to breed intolerance. And intolerance, history teaches us, again and again, begets violence.
---------------------------------- The duty of a patriot in this time and place is to ask questions, to demand answers, to understand where our nation is headed and why. If the answers you get do not suit you, or if they frighten you, or if they anger you, it is your duty as a patriot to dissent. Freedom does not begin with blind acceptance and with a flag. Freedom begins when you say 'No.'
posted on January 13, 2007 12:23:06 PM new
mingo....TRY to keep up.
pelosi has proposed legislation NOW because of her hyprocrisy being pointed out all over America....that will ALSO require her 'special' state supports to ALSO be included in the min. wage. increase.....should it pass.
lol lol
"While the democratic party complains about everything THIS President does to protect our Nation": "What would a Democrat president have done at that point?"
"Apparently, the answer is: Sit back and wait for the next terrorist attack."
posted on January 13, 2007 03:15:38 PM new
Just shows that the demonmorons cant walk the walk they talk
"When I talk to liberals, I don't expect them to understand my positions on various issues. I spend most of my time trying to help them understand their own." —Mike Adams
