Why did congress vote against raising the minimum wage? it's been the same for 15 years?

Question

We have had inflation for 15 years and corporations and businesses make so much profit

Answer 1

Big Business,they spend millions,Lord knows how much Lobbyist pay our Congressmen,to keep it unchanged,they could put that money in a fund,where a person could make a living wage,but they are to selfish.

Answer 2

Actually, the most recent change to the FEDERAL minimum wage law was enacted in Sept. 1, 1997...about 9 years ago...when the wage went from $4.75 to $5.15. However, this is only the Federally-mandated minimum; each State can choose to enact their own minimum wage law(s), which may not fall below this minimum nor can they take away any rights created at the Federal level. That said, I agree that the CORPORATE lobbyists have put unfair pressure on the current administration to NOT raise this minimum...obstinately to encourage job creation and a positive business climate. In EVERY case, this theory has proved itself to be FALSE, since the States which have taken steps to increase their minimum wage are also among the most prosperous...as their businesses have grown, not failed in the light of this increase (for instance, almost every State in the Northeast has minimums that are $1-2.50 PER HOUR above the Federal).

BTW: I am a regular contributor (pseudonym used) to blogs which talk about labor laws...and...agree, in principle, to your argument.

Answer 3

If congress raises minimum wage the cost of living will go up. Each time the wage is raised businesses raise their prices to cover the extra money they must pay their employees. Everything goes up.
Of course Congress has raised their wages, again just this year.
And since they are doing so well and can afford just about anything they don't see the need to raise minimum wage because they are doing so well.

Answer 4

Most 'minimum wage' jobs already are participating vibrantly in the market economy, and have been paying significantly more for nearly 10 years. Fast food jobs pay near $8, and that's more than even the proposed new minimum wage. Why should government interfere when the market is doing well regulating itself?

Answer 5

Because the PACs ( political action committees ) lobby people are from business and they don't want it. And because Americans are now too snobby to support their unions. Unless they start getting how important it is to build strong unions, business will continue to use the workers like TP. Business does little from compassion, they only respond to strength in numbers.

Answer 6

because they are idiots that's why!!...sit in thousand dollar leather chairs giving themselves raises, but we have a cost of living increase, while we make chump change for wages, that are taxed to the hilt, and social security money we will probably never see when we get that old, by then they will raise the age to be able to draw from it to 90 to make sure you can't get any of it....

Answer 7

Just my opinion, but they may have left it alone because all states have their own MIN WAGE and reasons behind what they set. For example, WA has THE best min wage at $7.80 or so per hour, while Kansas has $2.65 min wage! :(

SEE: http://www.dol.gov/esa/minwage/america.htm
ALSO SEE: http://www.infoplease.com/ipa/A0930886.html