Congressman Do Over Strikes Again

A Post Star Editorial Published in the 6/26/06 Editorial recap

Issue: Minimum wage vote

Congressman John Sweeney [R-NY] tried to paint himself as both a friend of labor and a friend of business by both supporting and opposing a minimum wage bill last week. He first voted to support raising the federal minimum wage to $7.25, pleasing labor. But when the matter came up for vote again, he decided that doing work on a questionably valuable Libyan terrorist bill was too important for him to make time to vote on the minimum wage proposal.

Recommendation: The congressman didn't have to duck the vote to serve his constituents. He should have realized that raising the federal minimum wage was good for New York workers and businesses because it would erase a competitive advantage other states have in offering lower wages than New York does.