Wilson vs Madrid: Minimum Wage War

One of the closest House races in the country has taken on a new dimension with a battle of words over the minimum wage:

The winners? The citizens of New Mexico, who have two candidates asking for a mininum wage hike.

SANTA FE - U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson has written a letter to House Majority Leader John Boehner, asking him to bring a bill to increase the minimum wage to the floor this week.

Her office points to it as proof that she supports an increase in the $5.15 hourly wage, last increased nearly 10 years ago.

"I'm urging a vote on a federal minimum wage increase. I expect a good proposal to emerge that I can support that includes important relief for the small businesses that create seven of 10 new jobs in America," Wilson wrote.

Critics say the letter is a ruse and she should sign a measure that would force a vote on a minimum wage increase.

"It's time for a change," said Democrat Patricia Madrid, Wilson's opponent in the Nov. 7 election. "Working New Mexicans are punching the clock and working hard, but because of Heather Wilson's inability to go against the Republican leadership, thousands of New Mexicans are still making only $5.15 an hour."

Madrid is the state's Democratic attorney general, prevented by term limits from running again.

If politics is a war over ideas, than we have already won half the battle.

When Republicans and conservatives adopt traditionally Democratic initiatives, then we can obviously point to a lack of confidence in the issues Republicans typically champion.

Although I clearly support Madrid in this contest, it says something about the effectiveness of this issue to rally voters. Wilson can't afford to not support the minimum wage hike because it would be very unpopular. The face Wilson supported a hike 6 years ago doesn't mean much and compared to a working-class advocate like Madrid, I think Wilson comes across as out-of-touch. But Wilson is going to get a lot of help ($$) for this race and has a record of winning after a bout of bad news. We'll see how this race develops and watch for the result.

I dug this quote as well:

An increase in the minimum wage is an issue familiar to New Mexicans. Albuquerque and Santa Fe have seen campaigns to increase the wage, though a proposal for a statewide wage hike backed by Gov. Bill Richardson failed in this year's legislative session.

Santa Fe has a minimum wage of $9.50. In Albuquerque, the City Council approved a wage hike to $6.75 starting in January, and to $7.50 in 2009.

By setting the stage for this type of discussion with various ballot proposals and legislative initiatives, New Mexicans are becoming familiar with the discussion that is necessary to help average Americans. Wilson recognizes this and knows that a issue like this can't be ignored.

Democrats nationally should heed this strategy: force the discussion at local (city, county) or maybe state levels and then push ballot initiatives. Then candidates in the states will be forces to discuss and take a stand on the issue, face with an educated and prepared electorate.

Landon Mascareñaz | July 27, 2006 | Comment on This Post (0 so far) Permalink: Wilson vs Madrid: Minimum Wage War

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