Stephen F. Kislock, III – 6/25/06

This page was last updated on June 25, 2006.

‘Profits before people’; Stephen F. Kislock, III; Beaver County Times; June 25, 2006.

It’s been almost 14 months since Mr. Kislock’s last letter about Sen. Santorum.

Below is a detailed critique of the letter.

“Please remember U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum in November. He got his cost of living. You try living on his salary of $162,000.

“On Wednesday, for the 18th time, Santorum voted against raising the minimum wage of $5.15 an hour. Why?”

[RWC] It would be more accurate to say, “Santorum voted against raising the minimum wage of $5.15 an hour to $7.25.” You see, Mr. Santorum supports raising the minimum wage by $1.10, not $2.10. He shouldn’t support any increase, but no one has accused Mr. Santorum of being an economic or fiscal conservative.

“‘Profits before people’ must be Santorum’s motto.

“Santorum wrote a book called ‘It Takes a Family.’ Here’s a quote: ‘In far too many families with young children, both parents are working, when, if they really took an honest-look at the budget, they might find they don’t need to.’

“This from Santorum. You talk about gall.”

[RWC] I didn’t read the book, but I think we all know what Mr. Santorum meant, assuming Mr. Kislock’s quote is accurate. For example, if each parent can earn $100,000/year, do both parents really need to work when the kids are young and would benefit from a stay-at-home parent?

“Santorum thinks making $5.15 an hour for 40 hours a week of work ($206) week is a living wage. Maybe in Timbuktu, but not the United States.

“Did Santorum mean in ‘It Takes a Family’ that the whole family must work to makes ends meet in his $5.15-an- hour world?”

[RWC] Who claims the minimum wage is supposed to be a so-called “living wage” for one person, let alone a family? This is a misrepresentation by folks on the left like Mr. Kislock. If you can’t earn enough to support a family, it’s incredibly irresponsible to start a family. As I’ve noted in previous critiques (here, here, here, here, here, here), the minimum wage is nothing more than stealth welfare.