Oklahoma Democratic Party Chair (ODP) Chair Lisa Pryor applauded all 44 House Democrats and the four Republican House members for taking a stand yesterday to create legislation that would increase the minimum wage in Oklahoma.

"Today, I call upon other legislators to do the right thing and increase minimum wage by $1 in 2007 and another $1 in 2008," Pryor said. "Families that work hard and play by the rules should not live in poverty. If we can give tax breaks to the privileged few, we must be willing to stand up for those who live at or below the poverty line."

Yesterday, House Republicans once again killed a measure that would raise the minimum wage in Oklahoma when they rejected House Democratic Leader Jari Askins's attempt to amend Senate Bill 1686 with instructions to increase the minimum wage in Oklahoma, which is currently a paltry $5.15. In stark contrast to the Republican leadership, 44 House Democrats endorsed the minimum wage proposal, along with four House Republicans who diverged from partisan lines in an attempt to do the right thing. The motion failed 51-48.

"I am proud to be a member of a Party that has historically fought for fair wages for working families and defended the opportunity for all Oklahomans to succeed," Pryor said. The ODP will always defend these values of accountability, responsibility and community. We will lead this fight for Oklahoma families because we can not move forward as a state when so many citizens are being left behind. Democrats understand the need for the wage increase, but Republican legislators have sabotaged the effort at every turn, at the cost of Oklahoma families."

In Oklahoma, 11 percent of Oklahomans - about 372,000 state citizens - live in poverty, including one in five children, a rate that is 15 percent higher than the national average. Pryor said raising the minimum wage is vital to ensuring strong family values and creating Oklahoma family units that are healthy, educated and self-sustaining.

"We deserve honest, courageous leadership from our elected officials. Oklahoma Democrats are saying 'yes' to working families, 'yes' to raising minimum wage and 'no' to poverty," Pryor said.