Quick Hits: Campaign finance reform, lowering minimum wage, Wisconsin

I spent part of my afternoon doing some more digging on campaign contributions from mining to candidates/incumbents. Fascinating work, that I’m actually enjoying. You’d be amazed at the number of ways campaign contributions can be ‘hidden’ in plain sight. You’d also be not so amazed at the candidates/incumbents - on both sides of the aisle - that have had their hands stretched way out there.

They probably justify it by saying “well, you’ve gotta get elected first and that takes money”. True, but those contributors won’t be back the second time if the candidate doesn’t step up and protect the contributors industry interests. Duh? Yet “We the People” fight publicly financed campaigns like it was some sort of anti-American plague.

I don’t get that. It’s not about free speech - although the Astro-Turf front groups representing the likes of the Koch Brothers would have you believe that it is. There’s Koch Brothers ‘free speech’ (the billionaire kind that gets you lunch with the entire committee) and then the John Q. Smith ($100 donor kind) that gets you a form letter from the candidate telling you that they appreciate your concern on Issue X. Not so very equal speech, is it?

No, publicly financed campaigns would be the most democratic, all-American thing we could do.

So as your access to legislators is being limited by the size of your wallet, critics of the Nevada minimum wage law are talking about decreasing the green in your wallet even further.

What? You don’t work for the minimum wage, so why should you care? Oh, but you do work for the minimum wage. Your wages are based on a percentage above whatever that minimum is - if it’s $10 an hour or $5 an hour. Lower the minimum wage and watch your non-minimum wage earnings start to roll backward. Your boss will explain the dynamics - with a pink slip - to you if you don’t ‘get it’, since he can now replace you with cheaper help.

The Senate Joint Resolution 2 is proposing to repeal the law that voters really, really supported in 2004 and again in 2006 - pegging the Nevada minimum wage at $1 above the federal minimum, if employers don’t offer health insurance.

If you think you’re struggling now, watch what happens if this repeal gets through. The casino’s will love it.

Now, imagine if you can what it would be like here in Nevada, if we got as charged up about injustice as the feisty folks in frigid Wisconsin:

I want to know where I can sign up or buy some of this righteous populist outrage. Gov. Walker is trying to get rid of an employees right to negotiate and collectively bargain to better their lot. Talk about anti-American, that’s Gov. Walker and his attempt to cripple collective bargaining by the public employees unions in Wisconsin.

Shame on him. Bravo to the protestors. A bratwurst in every pot!

-maven