Montgomery County, Maryland will now require most companies conducting business with the county to pay their workers a living wage, more than twice the rate set by the federal minimum wage, now $5.15/hour. The legislation faced steep opposition from business leaders who fear that the living wage will increase costs and force businesses to cut jobs. Supporters, including anti-poverty activists, countered that a living wage would help eradicate poverty for those stuck in low-paying jobs. After three years of wrangling over living wage legislation, the Montgomery County Council finally passed a proposal that will benefit the poor and ultimately the community.
“When workers are paid a living wage, the whole community benefits,” said council member Phillip Andrews of Rockville, Maryland. “Workers can support their families; organizations become more productive because they have less turnover.” Currently, 70 cities and counties nationwide have adopted “living wage” legislation. Officials from Alexandria, Virginia claim that the quality of work has improved since implementing a living wage there. Baltimore, Maryland, the first city to enact a living wage, also reported benefits from the legislation without increased burden on local taxpayers.
5/22/2013 Immigration Reform Bill Advances In Senate - Last night, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a sweeping immigration reform bill in a bipartisan vote of 13 to 5. . . .
5/22/2013 Afghan Women Arrested for 'Moral Crimes' Increases 50% - A new report by the Human Rights Watch shows that in the past 18 months the number of women in Afghanistan incarcerated for 'moral crimes' has increased from 400 to 600, a 50% growth.
Many of the women imprisoned for moral crimes were arrested running away from forced or abusive marriages and families, even though there is no law against leaving. . . .
5/22/2013 Army Commander Suspended for Adultery Amid Wave of Sexual Assaults - On Tuesday, Brigadier General Bryan T Roberts was suspended from his position as commander of the Fort Jackson, South Carolina training camp which trains approximately 60% of incoming female recruits pending an investigation into allegations of adultery.
Roberts was suspended following allegations of "adultery and a physical altercation." Colonel Christian Kubik, an Army spokesperson for the Training and Doctrine Command, told reporters "We don't have any evidence of any sexual assault. . . .
