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[–] iwasnotshadowbanned 1 point 44 points (+45|-1) ago 

I'm surprised he pays them anything....

Most of the political internships I have seen were unpaid.

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[–] TexasComments [S] 9 points 5 points (+14|-9) ago 

I used to do this for a living and I can tell you that in the political field "intern" can mean a generic campaign volunteer or a legislative lackey who knows how to write a press release rough draft or respond to correspondence.

I just find it hypocritical that someone would call for an across the board $15 minimum wage and not pay his staff that same $15 even though he is very well able to. Now, the argument will be that an intern is learning and gaining experience; well that's bullshit, someone working for me as an Accounting Intern or a Engineering Intern is paid - much better than minimum wage - and they are still learning and often doing less productive work than any political interns that I have employed or worked with.

If you want to shout about progressive ideas striving towards an ideal then start with yourself and your staff.

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[–] toker7 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

Most legislative interns are unpaid and only receive a stipend for their work. The interns that are paid are usually interns that have advanced degrees or experience beyond a bachelors degree.

The fact that he is willing to pay his interns more than the legally required amount speaks volumes to his creditability. Additionally, he does not likely have the ability to pay any staff. He has refused to use any PAC and has refused to use traditional sources of financing a campaign like $2,000 private campaign dinners. His opponents can out spend him easily.

I just finished law school and my internship paid $11/hour with a $1 raise half way though the internship. Many of my class mates worked much less or even for free. Some of my class mates made a lot more, $20 per hour. Even within the same industry wages vary.

As others have stated before me and others will state after me, this is a sad attempt at distracting people from Bernie Sanders message by focusing on a decision which he was not likely involved a great deal. Just like the board of directors for a company, candidates do not make very many decisions regarding day to day operations. They are too busy dealing with the non-stop news cycles and campaign events.

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[–] 1227181? 4 points 14 points (+18|-4) ago 

It is not hypocritical. Bernie Sanders is pushing to incrementally raise the minimum wage until it reaches $15 per hour in 2020. Unless I missed the last 4 1/2 years, it is not 2020 yet.

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[–] iwasnotshadowbanned 5 points 0 points (+5|-5) ago 

Why are you telling me this? Go tell Bernie if you feel so strongly about it.

Oh, and arguments from authority(especially regarding politics) won't work on me :)

The reason for our difference is probably the fact that we worked on different types of campaigns. Did you work for Republican campaigns?

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[–] let_them_eat_slogans 1 point 13 points (+14|-1) ago 

But he is starting with his staff. Is it really hypocritical to call for an increased minimum wage while paying your staff more than the minimum wage? It's not like he's saying $15 is some magical number that will solve our problems once and for all.

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[–] 1223427? 1 point 23 points (+24|-1) ago 

It's well above the minimum wage and internships are slightly different, but you have a point there. Most senate internships are unpaid.

http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%26*2%3C4Q%2CO%3F%0A

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[–] Broc_Lia 0 points 12 points (+12|-0) ago  (edited ago)

Personally I'm for freedom of contract, but I believe people should be held to their own standards. Uncompensated work doesn't sound very socialist and if he argues the minimum anyone should be paid per hour is €15 then that's what he should stick to.

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[–] NedTaggart 0 points 1 point (+1|-0) ago 

That really depends on your motive for making that claim. Are you making it because you actually believe it or are you making it because there are a lot of people that want to hear it.

The saddest part about that is that the vast majority of the people that hear that claim and gravitate towards the man with the message never even think to ask "Where does the money come from if you double minimum wage?"

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[–] Terkan 1 point 8 points (+9|-1) ago 

Exactly why these internships are compensated. He is holding himself to his own standards. He's paying them absolutely much more than he has to. He could pay them 0, but he's paying them 12. He would like everyone with a regular job to earn 15, but internships still could pay absolutely nothing. (only internships in for-profit private sectors cannot be unpaid if the following criteria apply)

The following six criteria must be applied when making this determination: The internship, even though it includes actual operation of the facilities of the employer, is similar to training which would be given in an educational environment; The internship experience is for the benefit of the intern; The intern does not displace regular employees, but works under close supervision of existing staff; The employer that provides the training derives no immediate advantage from the activities of the intern; and on occasion its operations may actually be impeded; The intern is not necessarily entitled to a job at the conclusion of the internship; and The employer and the intern understand that the intern is not entitled to wages for the time spent in the internship. If all of the factors listed above are met, an employment relationship does not exist under the FLSA, and the Act’s minimum wage and overtime provisions do not apply to the intern.

Clearly Bernie doesn't have to pay them anything. The fact that he is paying 12 is amazing. THere's no hypocrisy here, it is in fact the opposite. It actually goes to show that he is doing much more than he needs to to help out more in need.

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[–] 1224480? 0 points 2 points (+2|-0) ago 

I agree.

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