Minimum wage bill dies after maneuvering
OKLAHOMA CITY Legislation to raise Oklahoma's minimum wage dies today after Lieuteant Governor Jari Askins is summoned to the Senate to break a tie vote, only to be told by Senate President Pro Tem Mike Morgan that her vote was not needed.
An initial 23-to-23 vote on an amendment to raise the minimum wage from 5-dollars-and-15-cents to 7-dollars-and-25-cents over three years led Democratic Floor Leader Charlie Laster of Shawnee to request a recess so Askins could be called to break the tie.
Askins' vote was not needed, however, because Morgan, who had been unavailable when the first vote took place, became available to break the tie.
Senators voted 24-to-23 to attach the minimum-wage hike amendment to a bill dealing with worker training.
The wage-hike proposal died when Democrats did not gather enough support to pass the bill. Amendments need only a simple majority, while bills require 25 votes for passage.
The final vote on the bill was 23 Republicans and one Democrat -- Tom Ivester of Elk City -- against, and 23 Democrats in favor of it.
Copyright 2007 The Associated Press.
"Rayleene, we done got screwed again!"
ReplyDeletedirty arseholes. they're pretty feckin quick to vote themselves a raise.
ReplyDeletemy little fast food princess works for minimum wage.
it takes 3 days at minimum wage to buy a cool pair of nike shocks!!!