January 2, 2014/Press Releases

Are the GOP Candidates for Governor Against Increasing Minimum Wage?

Toni Boucher, Mark Boughton & John McKinney have all previously voted against minimum wage increases

Hartford, CT – On the second day of Connecticut’s minimum wage increase, the Connecticut Democratic Party again asks where the GOP candidates for Governor stand on Connecticut’s minimum wage increase, and also a proposed federal minimum wage increase.  Toni Boucher, Mark Boughton and John McKinney have all voted against minimum wage increases in the past, but with Connecticut residents beginning to feel the positive effects of the increase will they change their stance?

Tom Foley told the CT Mirror in 2010 that he was “OK” with the minimum wage, but does he support the increase that began yesterday? Does he support an increase to the federal minimum wage?

Background:

Boucher Voted Against Raising the Minimum Wage to $9 by 2015. According to the Office of Legislative Research, PA 13-117 “increases the hourly minimum wage from $8.25 to $8.70 on January 1, 2014 and from $8.70 to $9 on January 1, 2015. It increases the ‘tip credit’ in each of those years to keep the employer’s share of (1) hotel and wait staff’s hourly wages at its current $5.69 and (2) bartenders’ hourly wages at its current $7.34.” [Office of Legislative Research, 2013 Major Acts; Vote #377, 5/23/13]

Boughton Voted Against Increasing The State Minimum Wage To $6.70. In April 2000, Boughton voted against increasing the state minimum wage to $6.70. [Vote #214, 4/24/00; Public Act 00-144, Signed 5/26/00]

Boughton Voted Against Advancing Legislation That Increased The Minimum Wage Without Affecting The Hours Minors Could Work. In March 2000, Boughton voted against advancing legislation that would have increased the minimum wage to $6.65 per hour. The legislation did not include language that affected the number of hours minors could work. [HB 5160, 2000 Session, Planning And Development Committee Joint Favorable Vote Tally, 3/20/00; HB 5160 LCO No. 125, 2000 Session, Introduced 2/9/00]

McKinney Voted Against Increasing The Minimum Wage To $9 Per Hour In 2015. In May 2013, McKinney voted against increasing the from $8.25 to $8.70 in January 2014 and $9 in January 2015. [Public Act 13-117, Signed 6/6/13; Vote #377, 5/23/13]

McKinney Voted Against A State Earned Income Tax Credit. In May 2011, McKinney voted against establishing a state earned income tax credit equal to 30 percent of the federal credit. [Public Act 11-6, Signed 5/4/11; Vote #122, 5/3/11]

 

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