Another step

On the road to Utopia.

Similar bills that would give 1.4 million minimum wage earners a dollar-an-hour raise and then adjust their pay each year to keep up with inflation were approved by committees in the Assembly and Senate.

But the Senate committee refused to vote Wednesday on a rival bill backed by Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger that includes a $1 increase but not an annual inflation adjustment.

The sponsor of Arnold's preferred bill--this is me rolling my eyes--Senator Abel Maldonado is accusing state Democrats of playing politics with this by not passing the one piece of legislation that the Governor is sure to sign:

"Gov. Schwarzenegger looked me in the eye and told me he would again veto a minimum wage increase with (inflation) indexing," Maldonado said. "I take Gov. Schwarzenegger at his word.

"By not considering my bill, the committee is playing politics with people's lives," he said.

Frankly, you're all playing politics if I might just say so. I could get behind initiatives designed to enhance economic development in the state, bringing higher-wage jobs back to California. I can't however, get behind politicians, in effect, telling grown men & women that staying in low-paying jobs is fine because we'll take care of you.