Out in the Cold
No Excuse for Inaction
Nearly 16 months into the 113th Congress, House Republicans have next to nothing to show for their time in the majority. They have failed to address comprehensive immigration reform, neglected to pass a single bill to create jobs, and refused to increase the minimum wage or extend emergency unemployment insurance - leaving over 2.6 million Americans out in the cold - with thousands joining their ranks each day.
Nearly a month ago, the Senate acted in a bipartisan way and voted to extend unemployment insurance, yet House Republicans refuse to act. Democrats have offered Speaker Boehner multiple opportunities to do the right thing and have put forward a petition to demand a vote on this measure immediately. But they still say 'no'.
There is no excuse for inaction - our economy will lose jobs, and consumers and businesses will suffer. It's long past time to renew unemployment insurance and get millions of hardworking Americans back to work.
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#RaiseTheWage
This week, millions of hard working Americans were once again denied the long overdue pay raise they deserve. With Senate Republicans blocking a vote to raise the minimum wage, they have once again spotlighted their utter disregard for working people in our nation.
Raising the minimum wage is good for our workers, our economy, and our long-term growth. By increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour, we can increase the wages of at least 25 million hard working men and women, lift 1 to 4.5 million Americans out of poverty, and generate some $22 billion in increased economic activity.
We need to build an economy that works for everyone, not just the wealthy. No one working a full time job should have to raise their family in poverty – yet our colleagues have voted eight times to block an increase in the minimum wage in the House. It is time for Republicans to stop standing in the way of fairness for working people, and join with Democrats to #raisethewage.
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