Letter to Bob Ehrlich on Minimum WageJuly 31, 2006 The Honorable Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr. Dear Governor Ehrlich, As you know, Congress is taking up a $2.10 increase to the minimum wage this week – the first increase in over nine years. Unfortunately, the Congressional Republican leadership has endangered the prospects of this small minimum wage increase by linking it to a tax break for a tiny handful of America’s wealthiest heirs and heiresses, like Paris Hilton. Maryland’s hardworking families need this increase in the minimum wage. While they are facing soaring energy, gas and health costs, the buying power of families living on the minimum wage has decreased by nearly 20%, to their lowest levels in nearly half a century. The proposed increase will provide a working Marylander living on the minimum wage with $2,000 more a year. These additional dollars will significantly impact the life of a working man or woman who is now earning just $12,300 a year. In contrast, the estate tax break, which affects 8,200 nationally, will provide an additional $1,400,000 to estates that are already worth up to $7 million. The cost to the American treasury will be $268 billion. I’m sure you would agree that an increase in the minimum wage is too important to our working families to risk being imperiled by another break for a narrow band of the wealthiest individuals in our society. Quite simply, this is a matter of basic fairness. Accordingly, I urge you to join me in sending the attached letter to President Bush asking him to call on Congressional leadership for a straight up or down vote on the increase to the minimum wage. A joint letter from us would send a strong message to President Bush and the national Republican leadership that Marylanders are interested in putting government back on the side of families again. I look forward to your response before I send the letter tomorrow. Thank you, Friends of Martin O’Malley – 2400 Boston St., Ste. 203 – Baltimore, MD 21221 – 410-814-4206 – fax: 410-814-4218 |
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