奧巴馬政府上任以來不斷提出福利政策,雖然出發點是打撃貧富差距,但亦令美國走上像歐洲一樣福利主義之路。
經濟學者對最低工資的觀點依然充滿爭議,再加上現實社會中受政治的影響,這話題可說是沒完沒了。
『據美聯社最新消息,美國超過30個州已經通過或支持提高最低工資法案,凸顯收入不平問題的熱度高漲。
本法案主要受各州議會的民主黨議員推動,希望在全國範圍內將最低工資提高到7.25美元/小時以上。根據白宮工作人員透露,奧巴馬計劃於1月28日發表的2014年度國情咨文中強調貧富差距的嚴重性,將正式把推動提高最低工資的法案列入政府的施政目標。
據美國昆尼皮亞克大學的調查顯示,71%的美國人希望提高最低工資,其中包含過半數的共和黨人。
但是根據美國智庫皮尤研究中心去年12月公布的調查報告顯示,驢像兩黨對造成貧困原因有截然不同的看法。民主黨的大部分支持者(61%)認為,超出個人掌控的社會環境因素是導致貧困的主要原因。而共和黨的支持者(51%)則正好相反,認為個人努力不夠是貧困的主要原因。所以本次最低工資法案通過的主要阻力來自於共和黨方面。
可以預見,如何解決貧富差距將成為兩黨之間爭論,特別是在今年下半年舉行的國會中期選舉和圍繞著是否通過提高最低工資的法案的辯論中成為新的焦點。
來自共和黨方面的的主要反對理由是強制提高工資可能導致就業崗位減少以及消費成本上升。所以,在共和黨控制的佛羅裡達及南卡羅來納州等州通過幾率渺茫。
去年已經改有5個州通過了最低工資法案,其中愛荷華州將最低工資油7.25美元/小時提高至10.1美元/小時;羅德島州將最低工資由8美元/小時提升至9美元/小時;華盛頓特區、舊金山和聖何塞等城市都已批准調高至大約10美元。』
提高最低工資成為美國兩黨爭論焦點 - 华尔街见闻 28/1/2014
Source:
http://wallstreetcn.com/node/74261
『Lawmakers in at least 30 states are sponsoring or are expected to introduce wage hike measures, according to a national review by The Associated Press. They hope to notch state-level victories as President Barack Obama and congressional Democrats remain stymied in attempts to raise the federal minimum wage above $7.25 an hour. The president is expected to mention the minimum wage in his State of the Union address Tuesday.
Even in Republican-dominated capitals where the bills are longshots, the measures still give Democrats a chance to hammer home the popular theme of fair wages in what is an election year in most places.
"It's a no-brainer for any Democrat," said Neil Sroka, a strategist for progressive groups who is communications director at the Howard Dean-founded Democracy for America. "Congress is failing. They can take real action right in the states and have a demonstrable impact right here at home. For politics and policy, it's a winning strategy."
Minimum wage is a perennial issue that has taken on a higher profile amid the slowly recovering economy and growing public debate about income inequality. A Quinnipiac University poll this month found 71 percent of Americans in favor of raising the minimum wage — including more than half of Republicans polled.
...
Opponents, many of them Republicans, argue that the higher wages translate into fewer jobs and higher consumer costs. So wage hike bills in Republican-controlled legislatures, like Florida and South Carolina, are not expected to pass. In Florida, Gov. Rick Scott said the claim that working families need the boost to make ends meet makes him "cringe, because I know that statement is a lie."
"Even if we did raise the minimum wage, working families will still not be able to make ends meet on those jobs," Scott said. "We need good jobs that lead to good careers for our families, and that's what I am focused on."
Already, a Democrat-backed bill to increase Indiana's minimum wage by $1 was blocked by majority Republicans on a party-line vote Tuesday.
Win or lose, the legislation gives Democrats a potential weapon against Republican opponents. Eddie Vale, a Democratic strategist with close ties to labor unions, said Republicans who oppose a wage hike will face fierce criticism.
"There's a lot of people in this state that are making the minimum wage that are voting Republican right now," said House Democratic Caucus Chairman Mike Turner of Tennessee, where they plan to introduce a minimum wage bill this year. "Maybe if they see that they don't have their best interests in their heart, they might change their minds."』
MINIMUM WAGE BILLS PUSHED IN AT LEAST 30 STATES 26/1/2014Source
http://bigstory.ap.org/article/minimum-wage-bills-pushed-least-30-states
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