[GPCA Updates] NEWS ADVISORY: Greens say Democrats should be ‘ashamed' for abandoning state's lowest paid workers

[Green Party of California Updates]

                   News Advisory
           THE GREEN PARTY OF CALIFORNIA
             http://www.cagreens.org


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 					     
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
	   


Democrats should be ‘ashamed' for abandoning
state's lowest paid workers in minimum wage
plan, charge Green Party candidates

SACRAMENTO (August 22, 2006) – Democrats should be "ashamed" of themselves
for abandoning the state's lowest wage earners and "selling out" to
Republicans and Gov. Schwarzenegger by agreeing to an "obscene" new minimum
wage plan, said several Green Party of California statewide candidates today.

"The working poor will accept this wage increase, but they ought not to be
fooled by election-year politicians who have sold them out by denying these
workers what they deserve," said Donna Warren, Green Party candidate for
Lt. Governor. "Living wage laws eradicate poverty and people ought to be
able to afford to live," she added.

The plan agreed upon by the Republicans and Democrats would raise the
minimum wage from $6.75 an hour to $8 in 2008. But, according to the
California Budget Project, wage earners should be earning more than $10 an
hour right now to even come close to what people were paid in 1968, when
the minimum wage was $1.50 an hour.

"It's politics as usual at the Capitol, and Democrats should be ashamed for
abandoning minimum wage earners," said Green Party candidate for Controller
Laura Wells. "The wage hike is an election-year sham," she added.

Greens also point to the failure of Democrats to support a minimum wage
initiative by a coalition of social justice groups set for the ballot in
November, which would have raised the hourly wage to a minimum of $8.75 and
include an annual cost-of-living increase. 

"We had an opportunity to do something halfway decent for the hard-working
people of California, but the Democrats stood by and refused to help place
the measure on the ballot, and now they agree to a rate that cannot be good
for wage earners if for no other reason than a pro-business governor and
Wal-Mart both think it's acceptable," said Larry Cafiero, Green Party
candidate for Insurance Commissioner.