US Senate Republicans block vote on minimum wage increase
DES MOINES, IA - The minimum wage hasn't seen an increase in seven years, but Republicans in the US Senate today wouldn't even allow a yes-or-no vote on legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.
Iowa's Republican Senate candidates would wholeheartedly stand behind this latest display of right-wing obstructionism in Washington, denying 300,000 Iowans a pay raise.
Braley for Iowa spokesman Jeff Giertz said, "Iowans are sick and tired of Washington obstructionism that puts politics before progress for working families. Yet if they were in the US Senate, Iowa's Republican Senate candidates would join efforts to stop a vote on increasing the minimum wage from even occurring. Worse still, Sam Clovis and Joni Ernst oppose a federal minimum wage completely.
"Iowans want a Senator who will stand up to strengthen and expand the middle class, not one who stands with right-wing obstructionism."
BACKGROUND
Minimum Wage Increase Would Mean A Raise For 300,000 Iowans. In February 2014, Progress Iowa announced: "300,000 Iowans will receive a pay increase if the minimum wage is raised to $10.10 per hour; the increase in Iowa wages would spur economic activity and boost demand for goods and services, creating a virtuous cycle where businesses will need to hire additional workers to keep pace with demand." [Progress Iowa, 2/19/14]
Des Moines Register: Ernst Said That While She Supports A Legally Mandated Minimum Wage, She Believes It Should Be Set By States Rather Than The Federal Government. According to a March 2014 report by the Des Moines Register, "The candidates were also asked about their views on the minimum wage a question that prompted each of them to talk about their own experiences with low-wage work in addition to their policy position. Ernst recalled working at Hardee's fast food restaurants as an early morning biscuit-maker, and said that while she supported a legally mandated minimum, it should be states rather than the federal government which set the wages." [Des Moines Register, 3/18/14]
Clovis Doesn't Think Government Should Set A Minimum Wage. According to a March 2014 report from Think Progress, "At a Meet & Greet in Bettendorf, Iowa, Republican Senate candidate Sam Clovis said that he doesn't think the government should set a minimum wage except in the few areas where employers have monopolistic control. After an audience member said in reference to the minimum wage, 'The U.S. government has got no right to dictate to any business owner what they pay their employees,' Clovis responded, 'Exactly.' He went on to explain, 'I don't think the U.S. government should talk about minimum wage. Because every time you raise the minimum wage, you increase unemployment.' He said he does support a starting wage for those who work in an area where employers "could collude and offer lower wages,' but 'not in cities, not where you have competition for workers." He also called the minimum wage "a form of taxation.' " [Think Progress, 3/3/14]
DES MOINES, IA - The minimum wage hasn't seen an increase in seven years, but Republicans in the US Senate today wouldn't even allow a yes-or-no vote on legislation to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour.
Iowa's Republican Senate candidates would wholeheartedly stand behind this latest display of right-wing obstructionism in Washington, denying 300,000 Iowans a pay raise.
Braley for Iowa spokesman Jeff Giertz said, "Iowans are sick and tired of Washington obstructionism that puts politics before progress for working families. Yet if they were in the US Senate, Iowa's Republican Senate candidates would join efforts to stop a vote on increasing the minimum wage from even occurring. Worse still, Sam Clovis and Joni Ernst oppose a federal minimum wage completely.
"Iowans want a Senator who will stand up to strengthen and expand the middle class, not one who stands with right-wing obstructionism."
BACKGROUND
Minimum Wage Increase Would Mean A Raise For 300,000 Iowans. In February 2014, Progress Iowa announced: "300,000 Iowans will receive a pay increase if the minimum wage is raised to $10.10 per hour; the increase in Iowa wages would spur economic activity and boost demand for goods and services, creating a virtuous cycle where businesses will need to hire additional workers to keep pace with demand." [Progress Iowa, 2/19/14]
Des Moines Register: Ernst Said That While She Supports A Legally Mandated Minimum Wage, She Believes It Should Be Set By States Rather Than The Federal Government. According to a March 2014 report by the Des Moines Register, "The candidates were also asked about their views on the minimum wage a question that prompted each of them to talk about their own experiences with low-wage work in addition to their policy position. Ernst recalled working at Hardee's fast food restaurants as an early morning biscuit-maker, and said that while she supported a legally mandated minimum, it should be states rather than the federal government which set the wages." [Des Moines Register, 3/18/14]
Clovis Doesn't Think Government Should Set A Minimum Wage. According to a March 2014 report from Think Progress, "At a Meet & Greet in Bettendorf, Iowa, Republican Senate candidate Sam Clovis said that he doesn't think the government should set a minimum wage except in the few areas where employers have monopolistic control. After an audience member said in reference to the minimum wage, 'The U.S. government has got no right to dictate to any business owner what they pay their employees,' Clovis responded, 'Exactly.' He went on to explain, 'I don't think the U.S. government should talk about minimum wage. Because every time you raise the minimum wage, you increase unemployment.' He said he does support a starting wage for those who work in an area where employers "could collude and offer lower wages,' but 'not in cities, not where you have competition for workers." He also called the minimum wage "a form of taxation.' " [Think Progress, 3/3/14]
