Just how niggardly can you get?

It turns out that the Republicans' bill to "raise" the minimum wage not only is tied to a sharp cut in estate taxes for the super wealthy but also will LOWER the minimum wage significantly for a large class of employees.

WASHINGTON - Tip money earned by waitresses in Las Vegas, manicurists in Hollywood and bartenders in Seattle is on the table in the nation's capital, as lawmakers scrap over an election-year minimum wage bill.

Nevada, California and Washington are among seven states where workers get to keep their tips on top of getting paid their state's full minimum wage. In other states, tip-earning workers get paid less and make up the difference with tips.

A provision in GOP-written minimum wage legislation passed by the House and under consideration this week by the Senate could change the law in those seven states — the others are Montana, Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon. It would deal a pay cut of $3 or more an hour to thousands of waiters, bellhops and hairdressers in those states, according to Democrats and labor groups.

"Everything that has been achieved in seven states to support low-wage workers who earn tips is destroyed by this bill," said Sen. Dianne Feinstein (news, bio, voting record), D-Calif. "This bill would slash the salaries of thousands of workers."

When you get right down to it, this bill might lower the minimum wage by a larger amount than it raises it -- not to mention the fact that eliminating estate taxes will force the tax burden even more on the poor.

One thing you've got to give it to the Rethuglicans. They've got their hands in everyone's pockets but their own -- and they're very deft at picking pockets.