News & Politics - Senator Rick Santorum proposes Amendment to Cut Overtime Pay

Milt Palacio · 03-05-2005, 08:59 AM

Massachusetts Senator Ted Kennedy is proposing an increase in the minimum wage up to $7.25 as an amendment to the current bankruptcy bill being debated in Congress.

Republican Senator Rick Santorum (PA) is proposing an increase up to $6.25, but has other provisions that would hurt workers. These other provisions include a change in the way overtime is calculated that would deny millions of people overtime pay. Another provision eliminates any minimum wage for waitresses/waitors, as long as they make tips in the amount up to the minimum wage. This provision would also hurt millions of workers in the restaurant business.

http://www.ilcaonline.org/modules.ph...rder=0&thold=0

http://www.adaction.org/actionalert.htm

This is the type of proposal that shows you why many Republicans have the reputation of being anti-worker, pro-big business. Santorum's proposal would hurt millions of workers while only benefiting a small amount. We need Senators that will stand up for working people and Santorum obviously has his priorities in other places.

**In Fair Verona** · 03-05-2005, 09:10 AM

Damn, $7.25 would be awesome. I just got my first job and I make $6.50, so even though $6.25 is still a lot higher than the minimum wage is right now, it's not really anything exciting to me.

mh67511 · 03-05-2005, 01:10 PM

I make $5.50 so ANY increase would be good! Rhode Island had a minimum wage of $6.75 and that rocked! I always found it strange that Chicago is still $5.15, yet the cost of living is VERY high. I guess Rhode Island is higher? But it can't be THAT much higher can it?

The changes to overtime don't affect me though because I work at a movie theater and apparently in Nebraska, theatres are exempt from paying overtime. It's a load of crap if you ask me -- I know the theatre makes more than $500K a year too, but apparently the state law overrules the national law? That makes me mad and is one reason I don't always like giving states power, because sometimes they just make stupid decisions. Wouldn't surprise me if the head of Douglas Theatres has friends at the state capital

. Oh and the whole age-of-majority in Nebraska is 19 is a bunch of crap too -- yeah this state has some problems. I still love it though.

But anyways the whole 80-hours in two weeks instead of 40-hours in one week is ridiculous.

Isn't the minimum wage for wait staff $2.13 or something like that?

sum1 · 03-05-2005, 04:15 PM

- Jen - · 03-05-2005, 04:22 PM

I cant believe how low the minimum wage is in the US, is that based on age or something ? or can a 15yr old and a 25yr old, all be on the same minimum wage ?

mh67511 · 03-05-2005, 07:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by - Jen -

I cant believe how low the minimum wage is in the US, is that based on age or something ? or can a 15yr old and a 25yr old, all be on the same minimum wage ?

Yes, a 25 year old and a 15 year old can both be paid $5.15. And technically, although it rarely happens, if you are under 18 and are a student you can even be paid LESS, I believe it's $4.75 an hour, for the first 90 days or something like that. It's pretty crazy.

I do think minimum wage should be tied to age. I'm not at all concerned about the 15 year olds making $5.15 an hour. But when you are in college and have a lot of bills to pay it's really frustarating. This one girl where I work got mad when I said that and was all "well I pay bills too." Sorry but paying for a cell phone bill and gas for your car (that you parents bought you) is a heck of a lot different than having to pay for rent, laundry, groceries, credit cards, loans, etc.

I really hope the $7.25 would not apply to minors. I just don't see the necessity in making sure that some 16 year old is making that much and I don't like the idea of some lazy kid making that much.

- Jen - · 03-05-2005, 07:35 PM

wow, that really sucks, i knew it was low, but that is REALLY low...

In Australia, minimum wage is tied to age, it gradually goes up every year, as a casual 21 yr old worker, i believe my minimum wage is $14.70 an hour or something close to that, luckily i have a good employer, who pays well above the minimum with bonuses for overtime/sundays/public holidays...

I cant imagine trying to live on that little pay, its hard enough living on my pay as it is...

-Kelly- · 03-05-2005, 07:38 PM

Your minimum wage is called "reward wage" in Australia

I get AU$14.76 per hour

You guys should get more money

alli balli · 03-05-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mh67511

I really hope the $7.25 would not apply to minors. I just don't see the necessity in making sure that some 16 year old is making that much and I don't like the idea of some lazy kid making that much.

Exactly what makes you think minors are lazy and undeserving of as much money as you, just because you're older?

If you're performing the same job for the same length of time, you should be paid exactly the same amount of money, whether you're 15 or 50.

Rick Santorum is probably the biggest ******* in Congress. He's from my state and I loathe him. He gives PA a bad name. That said, supposedly he's going to have a hard time getting reelected next time his seat is up.

*Lauren · 03-05-2005, 08:06 PM

Its because minors don't have as many bills to pay. That's part of the real world. Also, someone who is 21 is more often than not, going to have more experience. Why should some 15 year old who's just started work be on the same pay as someone who's done this for six years? That isn't fair.

alli balli · 03-05-2005, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lauren

Why should some 15 year old who's just started work be on the same pay as someone who's done this for six years? That isn't fair.

It's not fair, which is why I said that if you're performing the job for the same length of time you should receive equal pay.

*Lauren · 03-05-2005, 08:44 PM

But its experience. At my work people who have been there for five years get a payrise. They're better at the job than me, therefore they get rewareded for it.

And you can't tell me someone's who just started a job is better than someone who's been there for six years. There's no way.

Besides, tell me exactly what bills a 15 year old has to pay that a 21 year old dosen't, and than have 10 more on top of that.

mh67511 · 03-05-2005, 09:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by alli balli

Exactly what makes you think minors are lazy and undeserving of as much money as you, just because you're older?

If you're performing the same job for the same length of time, you should be paid exactly the same amount of money, whether you're 15 or 50.

Are you serious?

Work ethic counts for nothing? It doesn't matter if you work twice as hard as someone, if they started when you did then you should both be paid equally? It doesn't matter if you came into a job with years of experience and others came in with none? That makes no sense at all. Why would anyone even bother trying to work hard or do a good job?

That's totally ridiculous if you ask me.

There is nothing wrong with having a minimum wage of $5.15 for minors. I do, however, think that it is wrong to have a minimum wage of $5.15 for adults. You can't possibly live off that! Even if I worked full time all summer, I would only make enough money to pay for six months of rent. That doesn't include taxes they take out, groceries, or any other bills. JUST rent. Now tell me that it is ok to pay an adult who works just to survive, the same as a 16 year old kid who lives with his parents and doesn't have any bills or responsibilities.

alli balli · 03-06-2005, 04:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by *Lauren

But its experience. At my work people who have been there for five years get a payrise. They're better at the job than me, therefore they get rewareded for it.

And you can't tell me someone's who just started a job is better than someone who's been there for six years. There's no way.

You still have no idea what I'm saying. I am not saying that 2 people who both work for 6 hours should be getting the same pay no matter what. I said that 2 people who have been at a job for the same length of time - IE if you had been at your job for 5 years, and so had a 35 year old - should be getting the same wages.

Quote:

Work ethic counts for nothing? It doesn't matter if you work twice as hard as someone, if they started when you did then you should both be paid equally? It doesn't matter if you came into a job with years of experience and others came in with none? That makes no sense at all. Why would anyone even bother trying to work hard or do a good job?

I didn't say that work ethic counts for nothing; I was wondering what gives you the right to claim that all people under the age of 18 are lazy and useless and don't deserve as much money as you do.

People don't get paid for the extenuating circumstances in their lives. They get paid for the work they do. If a 15 year old and a 50 year old start working at a McDonald's on the same day with the same work experience, the 50 year old shouldn't be paid more simply because he/she has to pay bills. And would you be willing to make an exception for emancipated minors? They're paying bills.

*Lauren · 03-06-2005, 05:37 PM

But the chances of a 15 year old having had any experience before are slim. The 50 year old almost defentitly would have had experience before. That's why they get paid more.