Don’t be fooled by the early TV campaign ads. There’s one touting a local congressman’s vote to raise the minimum wage, but it ignores the many negative consequences.

The high cost of American labor is a major factor in our huge trade deficit. Since many labor contracts are based on a multiple of the minimum wage, this bill makes matters worse. If your local government workers’ union has this contract clause, your property taxes must go up or services must be cut to balance the budget.

The same ad claims that Congress has become more ethical because of this congressman. So how come earmarks will no longer be debated or voted on by the House, but instead will be inserted by a committee chairman’s staff into the final conference version of the appropriations bills?

It smells like the rats need a bath.