Heather Wilson Votes for Multi-Millionaire Heirs to Get 183 Years of Minimum Wage Income

Paris Hilton and other elite heirs must be partying even harder than before. The Republican-run House of Representatives just voted to allow our wealthiest citizens to avoid the estate tax. Heather Wilson was right there as usual, voting in tandem with the Rove-orchestrated Republicans as she does more than 90 percent of the time.

As cover, the legislation also includes a measure to raise the minimum wage. You read that right. Despite voting en masse for years against a raise in the minimum wage, Heather Wilson and other conservatives suddenly found themselves excited about giving the working poor a raise. At a price, of course -- a dramatic cut in the estate tax for many of their big dollar donors. Even worse, the bill would CUT the minimum wage in some areas by over-riding local minimum wage laws that cover hourly workers who get tips. What a deal! Paris Hilton's tax cut would be coming directly out of the lower wages for tipped workers in California and a number of others states.

Think Progress estimates that:

... the minimum wage hike will increase the incomes of full-time, minimum wage workers by $84 a week, or about $4,368 a year. This would bring their income up to just over $15,000 a year (assuming 40 hours per week and 52 weeks per year.)

By contrast, the heirs of multimillionaires would receive substantially more by way of benefits. Consider the heirs who stand to receive a $10 million fortune through married parents. Under the new proposed law they would receive a tax break of as much as $2.76 million (compared with the 2006 estate tax law.)

Put another way, the heirs of the $10 million estate would get a tax break worth as much as 183 years of the income of a full-time minimum wage earner.

The Albuquerque Journal went right along with Rove's spin on the bill, calling it a pairing of a minimum wage raise and "help for small businesses." Oops, I guess they didn't notice the bill's primary aim of cutting the estate tax to provide more money for those already living the luxury life -- something the Republicans haven't been able to get through Congress on its own (non)merits.

Like other Republican election year charades about such pressing issues as flag burning and the pledge of allegiance, this legislation is phony and designed primarily to drive right-wing voters to the polls this November. By all accounts it has little chance of passing in the Senate and is another in a long line of Republican stunts aimed at spinning cotton candy for their base. Too bad Albuquerque's biggest newspaper is entirely willing to play right along with the hype.

Help elect someone who REALLY supports fair wages for working Americans -- Patricia Madrid. We're only a couple months from election day. Donate. Volunteer. Talk to your friends. Let's send a real friend of the people to Congress from CD1, Paris Hilton (and that Monopoly gent) be damned.