Russ Feingold: “as the 108th Congress draws to a close, it is time to reflect on a number of opportunities to support working families…”

“as the 108th Congress draws to a close, it is time to reflect on a number of opportunities to support working families that this Congress missed. American workers are the backbone of our economy. They have built this country, brick by brick and industry by industry. Too many of them have seen their factories closed and their jobs shipped overseas due to bad tax policy and dismal trade agreements. As the Senate meets today, families around our country are struggling to make ends meet in a sluggish economy. This Congress has missed opportunity after opportunity to support these families. As consumer and health care prices continue to rise and families must make difficult decisions about what to buy and what to go without, the 108th Congress will adjourn without even considering an increase in the Federal minimum wage. Congress last voted to increase the minimum wage 8 years ago, to the current level of $5.15. The Congressional Research Service notes that the Federal minimum wage would have had to have been raised to $8.49 in February of this year to equal the purchasing power that it had in February of 1968. Increases in the minimum wage have not kept up with inflation or with rising consumer prices, and workers earning minimum wage are struggling to make ends meet, often working two or more jobs. And many of these jobs do not provide basic benefits such as health insurance and paid sick leave.”