House Republicans Extort Wage Increase

I have to give the worthless little stains on humanity's backside, otherwise known as the Republican majority in the U.S. House of Representatives, credit on one thing: they sure know how to engage in extortion and face-saving political ploys designed to embarrass Democrats.

In one of their usual late-night sessions in which GOPers pass legislation they know would never survive a full vote by the House, Republicans managed to do what their counterparts in the U.S. Senate refused to do: raise the minimum wage--on the condition that the estate tax gets cut, big time.

Republicans passed this bill knowing it will probably fail in the Senate; that body shot down a minimum wage increase last month. So why did they do it?

Simply put, the Republicans by tying the wage increase to a huge cut in the inheritance tax--which affects only the wealthy--put Democrats in the uncomfortable position of going against one of the party's core issues in the midterm elections. Their plan, a desperate bid to convince voters that Democrats lack the courage of their convictions, is to appear like they're the ones really looking out for the interests of low-wage workers. By passing this bill, they reason, they stand a better chance of keeping control of the House of Representatives (which they've ruled with an iron fist for over a decade, and where any impeachment proceedings against George W. Bush and Dick Cheney must start).

Look for more of this kind of extortionist tactic the closer we get to November.