Score two for the good guys.

The Bellingham Herald's Jared Paben reports...

The bill that would suspend changes in the minimum wage during times of high unemployment failed to make it out of a state House of Representatives committee.

The same goes for the bill that would allow restaurants to pay servers less than Washington’s minimum wage if they would make that amount counting their tips.

Put it in the "Why majorities matter" file.

From the "Not exactly news" file.

Michele Bachmann's a hypocrite.

Mitt Romney's a liar.

Herman Cain doesn't think.

And what's more...

But I imagine you knew all that...

"Nothing has been accomplished all year."

…sez Republican leader Rep. John Boehner. This is what nothing looks like:

Implementing the 9/11 Commission's recommendations.

Benchmarks for progress in Iraq.

Raising the minimum wage.

10,000 new math and science teachers for America's public schools.

The largest increase in college aid since 1944.

Ethics reform.

And, of course, dozens of bills passed by the House and stymied by Senate Republicans - despite majority support in the Senate - or Bush's newly discovered veto pen.

It's not everything, for sure. It's not nothing, either, though.

Still, we could do more and better.

We could, with more and better Democrats.

Good news...

…via Ezra Klein.

This week, low-wage workers will get their first mandated pay increasesince 1997, when the first phase of the Democrats' minimum wage bill comes into effect and boosts the federal minimum wage from $5.15 an hour to $5.85. The minimum wage will then increase by 70 cents every till 2009, when the national minimum wage will come to rest at $7.25.

Of course, it's good news about what's just a good start. My man John says $9.50 by 2012.

I say at least.