Governors Shumlin and Hassan Urge Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION 1401 K STREET NW, SUITE 200 | WASHINGTON, DC 20005 T 202.772.5600 | F 202.772.5602 | WWW.DEMOCRATICGOVERNORS.ORG Paid for by the Democratic Governors Association. Not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee. Gov. Peter Shumlin Vermont Chair Gov. Maggie Hassan New Hampshire Vice Chair EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Gov. Jerry Brown California Gov. Steve Bullock Montana Major Donor Chair Gov. Andrew Cuomo New York Gov. John Hickenlooper Colorado Gov. Jay Inslee Washington Finance Chair Gov. Dannel Malloy Connecticut Gov. Jack Markell Delaware Gov. Martin O’Malley Maryland Gov. Pat Quinn Illinois Colm O’Comartun Executive Director Peter O’Keefe Treasurer April 30, 2014 The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510 The Honorable John Boehner The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House Democratic Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515 Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Democratic Leader Pelosi: We are writing to urge Congress to listen to the growing calls from Americans all over the country to raise the minimum wage. No American working more than 40 hours a week should have to live in poverty. Raising the minimum wage will strengthen the economy by giving Americans more money to spend and invest, increasing economic growth. Our states need more good paying jobs so that our citizens can afford their basic needs and have enough purchasing power to boost their local economies. Ordinary Americans’ purchasing power is the engine that drives our economic success, with 70 percent of our country’s GDP coming from consumer spending. If more and more families see their spending power decline, this will hold back the economic recovery for all of us. A low minimum wage puts pressure on our state budgets and the federal budget as more workers depend on public assistance programs even as they work full-time. In addition, women account for roughly two-thirds of workers whose incomes would rise by increasing the minimum wage. These women are often the only breadwinners in their families, and by reducing dependence on public assistance programs, women and their families are in a stronger economic position. We urge you to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Americans who work hard and play by the rules deserves an opportunity to succeed. Sincerely, Governor Peter Shumlin Governor Maggie Hassan Chairman Vice Chair

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Today Governor of Vermont and DGA Chair Peter Shumlin and Governor Maggie Hassan sent a letter to Senate Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Minority Leader Pelosi urging Congress to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. No American working more than 40 hours a week should have to live in poverty and raising the minimum wage will strengthen the economy by giving Americans more money to spend and increase economic growth. A low minimum wage puts pressure on state budgets and the federal budget as more workers depend on public assistance programs even as they work full-time. Americans who work hard deserve an opportunity to succeed. Governors Shumlin, Hassan and Democratic governors are working every day to grow and strengthen the middle class and are ready to act in raising the minimum wage.

Transcript of Governors Shumlin and Hassan Urge Congress to Raise the Minimum Wage

DEMOCRATIC GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION

1401 K STREET NW, SUITE 20 0 | WASHINGTON, DC 20005

T 202.772.5600 | F 202.772.5602 |

WWW.DEMOCRATICGOVERNORS.ORG

Paid for by the Democratic Governors Association.

Not authorized by any candidate or candidates committee.

Gov. Peter Shuml in

Vermont Ch ai r

Gov. Maggie Hassan

New Hampshi re V ic e C h a i r

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Gov. Jer ry B rown

Cal i fo rn ia

Gov. S teve Bul lock

Montana M aj o r D o nor Ch a i r

Gov. Andrew Cuomo

New York

Gov. John H icken looper

Colorado

Gov. Jay Ins lee

Washington F in an c e Ch a i r

Gov. Dannel Mal loy

Connect icut

Gov. Jack Markel l

Delaware

Gov. Mar t in OMal ley Mary land

Gov. Pat Quinn

I l l ino is

Colm OComar tun Execut ive D i rec tor

Peter OKeefe T reasure r

April 30, 2014

The Honorable Harry Reid The Honorable Mitch McConnell Majority Leader Minority Leader United States Senate United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20510 Washington, D.C. 20510

The Honorable John Boehner The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Speaker of the House Democratic Leader U.S. House of Representatives U.S. House of Representatives Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear Majority Leader Reid, Minority Leader McConnell, Speaker Boehner and Democratic Leader Pelosi: We are writing to urge Congress to listen to the growing calls from Americans all over the country to raise the minimum wage. No American working more than 40 hours a week should have to live in poverty. Raising the minimum wage will strengthen the economy by giving Americans more money to spend and invest, increasing economic growth. Our states need more good paying jobs so that our citizens can afford their basic needs and have enough purchasing power to boost their local economies. Ordinary Americans purchasing power is the engine that drives our economic success, with 70 percent of our countrys GDP coming from consumer spending. If more and more families see their spending power decline, this will hold back the economic recovery for all of us. A low minimum wage puts pressure on our state budgets and the federal budget as more workers depend on public assistance programs even as they work full-time. In addition, women account for roughly two-thirds of workers whose incomes would rise by increasing the minimum wage. These women are often the only breadwinners in their families, and by reducing dependence on public assistance programs, women and their families are in a stronger economic position. We urge you to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. Americans who work hard and play by the rules deserves an opportunity to succeed. Sincerely,

Governor Peter Shumlin Governor Maggie Hassan Chairman Vice Chair