FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 23, 2006 FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Brett Garner Office: (801) 983-7383 Cell: (801) 573-4759 ****PRESS RELEASE**** Ashdown Proposes Congressional-Minimum Wage Plan Ties Any Congressional Pay Raise to Minimum Wage SALT LAKE CITY, UT--Democratic US Senate nominee Pete Ashdown today released a plan in response to the Senate's 7th straight failure to pass a minimum wage increase. Ashdown proposed that any raise in Congressional wages be tied to an increase in the Federal minimum wage. Ashdown assailed the "pure greed" and "arrogance" in Utah's Republican Congressional Delegation, and praised Representative Matheson for "exhibiting true courage" in standing up as the lone voice against a new pay raise. According to Ashdown's plan, any Congressional pay would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act, raising the minimum wage by at least 25 cents an hour. However, Ashdown's proposal states that Congress can independently raise the minimum wage any time, but only requires that it accompany Congressional pay raises. Ashdown, founder and President of Utah's first Internet service provider, cited this proposal as part of his "Business Values" campaign, one that prioritizes community needs over profit margins. "When I hired my first employee, I paid him $7 an hour; today the starting wage at XMission is $11 a hour, with benefits." Ashdown refuted the "flawed logic" that states small business cannot survive a minimum wage increase. "The debate over how this affects business in America in my mind is not relevant, because most responsible businesses already are paying employees well above the minimum wage and taking care of their health care needs," Ashdown said. "When a profitable business does not, then they shrug their irresponsibility off to the American tax-payer." Ashdown also decried his opponent's continued "arrogant indifference," ignoring the majority of Utahns who want a minimum wage while "shoveling more and more big-government debt onto our shoulders and our children's shoulders." Senator Hatch has voted several times to increase his Congressional pay, but has voted nay to 10 different, specific proposals to increase the minimum wage in since 1989, including the 1996 raise to $5.15. "It's time that Utahns put in Washington someone who knows how to sacrifice their own wants for the greater good of the nation." Ashdown will speak be available for media inquiries Friday morning. Ashdown will speak to the AFL-CIO Endorsement Convention on Friday afternoon at approximately 2:30. For more information, visit www.peteashdown.org.