As I mentioned below, the House passed a minimum wage increase today by a 315-116 vote. Not surprisingly, Lee Terry continued to vote in lockstep with the Republican leadership, voting against providing much needed relief for the working poor by increasing the minimum wage to $7.25 an hour. Adrian Smith and Jeff Fortenberry also voted against the bill.

It’s amazing how Terry managed to take the results of the election in through his own lens, and interpret it as a mandate to be the same partisan figure that he has always been in the House of Representatives. His own lack of independence and resolve on seemingly any issue facing the House of Representatives stands as a stark contrast, as John mentioned, with his opponent in the 2006 election, Jim Esch.

While Terry refused to take a stand on the issue during the campaign, and opposes an increase that enjoys 80% support among the public, Esch was very open about where he stands:

I believe that our workers are entitled to economic justice. I will both propose and support policies that create jobs with decent working conditions and adequate pay that reflects a living wage. I support the right of workers to organize, join a union, bargain collectively, and most importantly, to exercise these rights without reprisal. I support raising the federal minimum wage and indexing the minimum wage to inflation, and I oppose efforts to allow employers to avoid paying overtime.

Whether this is simply an effort on Lee Terry’s part to position himself for a U.S. Senate run, or a detachment from reality that demonstrates a clear lack of any connection with his constituents, it is clear that Lee Terry is not representing the interests of Nebraska’s 2nd District any longer – if, indeed, he ever was. Whether or not he runs again is unimportant in the context of this discussion. What is important is his continued disregard for the trust of his constituents. As a lifelong resident of Omaha and Nebraska’s 2nd District, I am ashamed to be represented by someone who so clearly puts party above the people – always.