To Be Announced...

The governor is prepared to sign a bill to increase the minimum wage in Iowa very soon. Remember, the Minimum Wage Contest sponsored by this website/blog only ends when THE PRESIDENT signs a bill increasing the federal minimum wage.

As of yet, still no qualifier in sight. I'm looking for someone who meets the definition offered by Democrats of "working poor families who need a raise" - a family of at least three people surviving on nothing but a minimum wage job for at least 4-months. For all the rules and qualifying guidelines, read the initial post about the contest.

I am getting some interesting emails - which I will post later.

In any event, here's the news of the day on the minimum wage. Governor Culver has pulled some more statistics out of his rear end and we suddenly have almost double the number of people on the minimum wage than we did just last November.

Senator Gronstal just last week said the following:

"I think for 100,000 Iowans it’s nine years past due," said Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, D-Council Bluffs.

And today?

Wage increase up for debate

Gov. Chet Culver said he hopes to sign into law by the end of this week a bill raising the state minimum wage to $6.20 an hour on April 1 and to $7.25 an hour on Jan. 1.

"This will affect 260,000 Iowans literally overnight - about 130,000 Iowans that are working at the minimum wage right now, another 130,000 that are working ... just above the minimum wage," said Culver, who Monday held his first Statehouse news conference since his inauguration Jan. 12.

Yes...literally overnight on April Fools day. My contention is that they truly are a bunch of fools if they're waiting around for someone to pass a law to increase their salary. My guess is, most of those 100/120/260-thousand people could probably get a raise tomorrow just by going to their bosses and asking for one.

In other news from the story, some more double-talk:

Culver reaffirmed that he's going to propose a dollar-per-pack increase in the cigarette tax to discourage smoking and raise money for health care programs.

Iowa's tobacco tax is currently 36 cents a pack.

"We have the ninth-lowest tax in the nation. It has not been raised for a number of years, and this will allow Iowa to be more in the national average when it comes to this important tax," Culver said.

Which is it? To discourage smoking or raise money? If that one statement doesn't say it all, I don't know what does. And why is it important for us to be merely "average" when it comes to this important tax? If it's so important, raise it even more...go for the gold. Let's "lead the nation" for once!

And finally, there's this:

Culver said he's not going to recommend any other tax increase, although he will propose the closing of some "corporate loopholes."

Translation: to get them to pay more in taxes.

Labels: culver, minimum wage

UPDATED!!!

Let me say first that I'm no great writer myself and I didn't hear the speech delivered by Governor Culver!!!!

But from what I read!!! I can only say it didn't sound like it was all that special!!!!

Not really inspiring!!! And kind of blah!!!! Something a high school graduate could write easily.

!!!

Text of Culver's inaugural address!!!!

The usual references to JFK and MLK!!! but nothing truly inspiring!!!!

The first thing that caught my eye was the inclusion of exclamation points!!! in the text of the address posted on the DSM Register!!!!

Who puts exclamation points in their speech text!!!!? My quick scan with MS Word counted 17 exclamation points!!! 16!!! in a speech that lasts less than a half hour!!!!!!!!!!

Here are the relevant portions...I guess he's trying to include applause lines.

The 16 Exclamation Points:

As some of you may have heard, once or twice, I was once a high school government and history teacher!

Following the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark made their famous expedition up the Missouri River along our state's western border. These explorers were fearless!

They were guided by: Their faith. Their hopes. And their dreams. Even when no one gave them a map!

One of my heroes, President John F. Kennedy, also believed in the importance of exploration and in the relentless pursuit of a new frontier...Well, my fellow Iowans, this is our time!

There is an energy frontier open before us, and we must explore it immediately! America and the world are counting on us.

Simply put, we can't afford to duck this responsibility!

We will create an Iowa Power Fund to invest in and attract cutting edge research and development. This will ensure we can lead the way not only in alternative fuels but also in biomass, geothermal, wind and solar energy. It’s time for Iowa to become the first state in the nation to declare energy independence!

We are already on our way!

Whether it's the production of soy lubricant...a biorefinery...corn-based plastics... -- Iowa is on the frontier!

Our dreams of an amazing future, one of energy independence, prosperity and a quality of life second to none, are within our reach. I know we can turn our dreams into reality!

There is another important lesson we must take from those daring souls who have come before us. They understood the importance of working together to get the job done!

And, I want every Iowan to know, we need you!

Together, we will continue to move this great state forward!

They expect us to find ways to support and encourage entrepreneurs and small business owners, the dreamers who create jobs across our state. Iowans also deserve a government that reflects their values!

Dr. Martin Luther King, who led Americans into action when he said, "Everybody can be great because anybody can serve"...Well, Dr. King was right!

This is our time!

Labels: culver