Bernie Sanders Statement on New York and California Minimum Wage Increase

[imagine2015]

Press Release

Sanders Statement on New York and California Minimum Wage Increase
April 4, 2016


JANESVILLE, Wis. – U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders on Monday issued the following statement as Gov. Andrew Cuomo and Gov. Jerry Brown signed legislation to raise the minimum wage to $15 per hour in New York and California:

“I’m proud that today two of our largest states will be increasing the minimum wage to a living wage of $15 an hour – raising the wages of some 9 million workers in this country. Not too long ago, the establishment told us that a $15 minimum wage was unrealistic. Some thought it was ‘pie-in-the-sky.’ But a grassroots movement led by millions of working people refused to take ‘no’ for an answer. Loudly and clearly workers said, ‘yes we can increase the minimum wage, not just to $10.10 an hour, not just to $12 an hour, but to a living wage of $15 an hour.’

“This campaign is about building on these successes so that everyone in this country can enjoy the dignity and basic economic security that comes from a living wage, no matter what state they live in. That includes ending the subminimum wage for tipped workers and persons with disabilities.

“New York is also joining California, New Jersey and Rhode Island in guaranteeing paid family leave. In my view, we must go further by passing the Gillibrand-DeLauro FAMILY Act to guarantee 12 weeks of paid family leave to every worker in America. Secretary Clinton opposes this bill. She believes that a $1.61 a week payroll tax on the average worker is too high a price to pay for this legislation. I disagree.

“As president, I will proudly stand with working families all across our country and fight for Congress to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour and provide paid family leave to every worker in America. Together, we can rebuild the middle class in this country, reduce poverty, raise wages, combat soaring income and wealth inequality and create millions of jobs.”

https://berniesanders.com/press-release/sanders-statement-new-york-california-minimum-wage-increase/


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[DemocracyDirect]

1. We have changed the conversation.

Go Bernie Go!

[Jitter65]

2. The conversation was started before Bernie talked about it. nt

[bahrbearian]

4. Pie in the sky,

[Luminous Animal]

6. One of his first acts in congress was to introduce the Livable Wage Act of 1993.

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4546203/bernie-demanding-living-wage-1993

[CalvinballPro]

9. That's the Sanders MO, though. Be against everything, until you spot something to take credit for.

[TCJ70]

11. I'd be curious to know what you're basing that on?

From this press release he clearly gave credit to the people who are working in congress to pass the family leave bill...

[ky_dem]

13. Aqua Teen Hungerforce! `

[Luminous Animal]

14. So this isn't Bernie introducing the Livable Wage Act in 1993?

http://www.c-span.org/video/?c4546203/bernie-demanding-living-wage-1993

[Jitter65]

3. Most of his followers believe it will become $15 immediately. nt

[bahrbearian]

5. No we can't

[99Forever]

8. So you've been elected spokesperson for "most Sanders supporters?"

When was that vote held and could you explain why any Sanders supporter would want a Clinton shill to speak for them?

[anotherproletariat]

21. Wow, you've been an a%$hole to others for a long time.

Is there a reason you feel you need to be so mean to those that don't agree with you?

[TCJ70]

12. Next to no one believes that.

And neither does Sanders. He's said it'll be a fight if we can't take back congress (not that it won't be a fight no matter what). He's just OK with having that conversation and working to get it done.

[BernieforPres2016]

7. So Hillary is opposed to a paid family leave bill co-sponsored by her successor in the Senate

A Democrat, Kirsten Gillibrand, who occupies Hillary's former Senate seat. How pathetic.

[CalvinballPro]

10. Where in your colon did you pull that claim from? Let's see some citation

on Hillary being "against" this bill.

[TCJ70]

15. Well, here's one article:

http://www.cnn.com/2015/11/16/politics/bernie-sanders-hillary-clinton-paid-leave/

Essentially Hillary feels any tax increases, no matter how small, are unacceptable. She feels she can get it done without increasing anyones taxes. Sounds like free stuff, pie in the sky, unicorns to me.

One thing you gotta give Sanders, at least he outlines how to pay for things. It's incredible that Clinton has gotten away with painting him as someone who's just about giving away free stuff.

[CalvinballPro]

17. "She feels she can get it done without increasing anyones taxes." So much for "opposition."

Better luck next time?

[TCJ70]

20. That's why she opposes the bill...

...I'm not sure what else to tell you. It sounds like a silly reason to oppose it to me.

[Matt_in_STL]

16. And another article. Also, if you watch video from the third debate she confirms it

http://thinkprogress.org/politics/2016/01/08/3737305/2016-paid-family-leave/

[CalvinballPro]

18. A different method of payment doesn't count as "opposition." Otherwise Sanders wouldn't get credit

for supporting Clinton's healthcare plan in the 90s because he was busy pushing his own single-payer plan at the time.

One standard for both candidates, please.

[Matt_in_STL]

19. She is opposed to the bill. That was the post. You asked for confirmation and got it.

She has proposed some magical money that will cover it on the government's tab but won't provide specifics. If you oppose Bernie's proposals for the reason that you don't know where the funding will come from, then you have to realize Clinton's fails the same test.

One standard indeed.