Post by PHILIP RACUEL on Sept 20, 2006 19:41:13 GMT -5
I missed this last week 
....................
Governor signs new minimum wage into law
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez jokes that Schwarzenegger's decision "comes right out of the Democratic playbook" at the bipartisan ceremony.
By Christina Almeida
The Associated Press
Flanked by Democratic lawmakers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed a bill giving California one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, an election-year compromise that upset some conservatives and business groups.
The law gives more than 1.4 million people an increase of 75 cents an hour in January and another 50 cents the following year, boosting the rate from $6.75 an hour to $8.
Schwarzenegger and legislative Democrats have been at odds over the shape of a minimum wage increase in California for the past several years. Democrats sought annual automatic increases, which Schwarzenegger opposed.
The governor supported a straight $1-an-hour increase but compromised on the $1.25-an-hour boost with no annual adjustment.
"This is a great accomplishment in an election year, an election year when everyone usually tries to derail each other in Sacramento," Schwarzenegger said during the bill-signing ceremony, which was held at a Latino marketplace near downtown.
With the new law, California joins Massachusetts as having the nation's highest minimum wage. Massachusetts also will boost its rate to $8 an hour by 2008 after lawmakers were able to override a veto this summer by Republican Gov. Mitt Romney.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, was at Schwarzenegger's side as he signed the bill and said the minimum wage hike "comes right out of the Democratic playbook."
But he also praised the governor for striking a compromise.
"The governor said it right when he said we have to share the wealth," Nunez said. "It means putting more food on the table. It means being able to afford to pay the rent."
from Philip:
(Fabian and I are going to have to have a talk- even at $8 an hour here in SD paying the rent and getting food is all that you can do with that wage- if there is any left over it's a miracle. Still this is a positive step although the city of San Diego's minimum wage should be $10 an hour like the city of San Fran since we are nearly as expensive a city to live in as SF)
Nunez, a co-chairman of Schwarzenegger's Democratic opponent in the November election, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, said he was not concerned that appearing with Schwarzenegger might send a mixed message to voters.
"Whether it helps him or whether it doesn't help him, we get elected to the Legislature to fight for an agenda," Nunez said. "We don't get elected to the Legislature to put politics before a policy agenda."
Angelides issued a statement criticizing Schwarzenegger for his vetoes of earlier minimum wage legislation that contained annual cost-of-living adjustments.
If elected in November, Angelides said he would sponsor legislation "to index the minimum wage to inflation so that the livelihoods of hard-working families are not held hostage to politics and they are not pushed into poverty by inflation."
Some business groups had objected to the raise, saying it will hurt the economy and drive up costs. The California Chamber of Commerce opposed it but has credited Schwarzenegger for refusing to agree to automatic annual increases.
(Philip's Theory- if people make a living wage and have some money left to enjoy their time away from work then they will be happier workers...so screw you Chamber of Commerce)
Schwarzenegger defended the timing of his decision, saying California's economy could not have handled a minimum wage increase a few years ago.
(No Arnold- it wasn't re-election time a few years ago mister girly man)
....................
Governor signs new minimum wage into law
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez jokes that Schwarzenegger's decision "comes right out of the Democratic playbook" at the bipartisan ceremony.
By Christina Almeida
The Associated Press
Flanked by Democratic lawmakers, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger on Tuesday signed a bill giving California one of the highest minimum wages in the nation, an election-year compromise that upset some conservatives and business groups.
The law gives more than 1.4 million people an increase of 75 cents an hour in January and another 50 cents the following year, boosting the rate from $6.75 an hour to $8.
Schwarzenegger and legislative Democrats have been at odds over the shape of a minimum wage increase in California for the past several years. Democrats sought annual automatic increases, which Schwarzenegger opposed.
The governor supported a straight $1-an-hour increase but compromised on the $1.25-an-hour boost with no annual adjustment.
"This is a great accomplishment in an election year, an election year when everyone usually tries to derail each other in Sacramento," Schwarzenegger said during the bill-signing ceremony, which was held at a Latino marketplace near downtown.
With the new law, California joins Massachusetts as having the nation's highest minimum wage. Massachusetts also will boost its rate to $8 an hour by 2008 after lawmakers were able to override a veto this summer by Republican Gov. Mitt Romney.
Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, D-Los Angeles, was at Schwarzenegger's side as he signed the bill and said the minimum wage hike "comes right out of the Democratic playbook."
But he also praised the governor for striking a compromise.
"The governor said it right when he said we have to share the wealth," Nunez said. "It means putting more food on the table. It means being able to afford to pay the rent."
from Philip:
(Fabian and I are going to have to have a talk- even at $8 an hour here in SD paying the rent and getting food is all that you can do with that wage- if there is any left over it's a miracle. Still this is a positive step although the city of San Diego's minimum wage should be $10 an hour like the city of San Fran since we are nearly as expensive a city to live in as SF)
Nunez, a co-chairman of Schwarzenegger's Democratic opponent in the November election, state Treasurer Phil Angelides, said he was not concerned that appearing with Schwarzenegger might send a mixed message to voters.
"Whether it helps him or whether it doesn't help him, we get elected to the Legislature to fight for an agenda," Nunez said. "We don't get elected to the Legislature to put politics before a policy agenda."
Angelides issued a statement criticizing Schwarzenegger for his vetoes of earlier minimum wage legislation that contained annual cost-of-living adjustments.
If elected in November, Angelides said he would sponsor legislation "to index the minimum wage to inflation so that the livelihoods of hard-working families are not held hostage to politics and they are not pushed into poverty by inflation."
Some business groups had objected to the raise, saying it will hurt the economy and drive up costs. The California Chamber of Commerce opposed it but has credited Schwarzenegger for refusing to agree to automatic annual increases.
(Philip's Theory- if people make a living wage and have some money left to enjoy their time away from work then they will be happier workers...so screw you Chamber of Commerce)
Schwarzenegger defended the timing of his decision, saying California's economy could not have handled a minimum wage increase a few years ago.
(No Arnold- it wasn't re-election time a few years ago mister girly man)
