Tagged: Jack Reed

Welcome back to my weekly column. As always, your tips and thoughts are welcome at idonnis (at) ripr (dot) org. Let's get to the list.

Barring a Republican takeover of the US Senate, Senator Jack Reed is poised to take over the chairmanship in 2015 of the Senate Armed Services Committee. That's due to just-announced plans by the current chair, Senator Carl Levin of Michigan, to not seek re-election next year.

Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed is supporting a bill that would increase the federal minimum wage over the next three years.

The federal minimum wage is currently $7.25.  The so-called “Federal Wage Act” would increase that wage by 95 cents annually until it reaches $10.10 by 2015.

However the buying power of minimum wage has decreased significantly, and the new boost may not be enough in Rhode Island, says Kate Brewster, the executive director of The Economic Progress Institute.

Senator Jack Reed says Chuck Hagel  will provide outstanding leadership heading up the Pentagon. Reed says this is a critical moment for the US with national security threats and a continuing presence in Afghanistan.