After stating at least a half dozen different positions on the minimum wage in recent months, Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump yesterday said he supports raising the federal minimum wage to “at least $10.” Since then, other prominent Republicans, including Congressional Republicans seeking reelection, have been running for cover trying to duck the issue. By their past votes and statements, they’ve all opposed raising the poverty-level federal minimum wage of $7.25 per hour.
The Republican platform states: “The minimum wage is an issue that should be handled at the state and local level.” Not even a mention of the federal minimum wage. And total hypocrisy, because Republicans have almost universally opposed state and local minimum wage increases.
Democrats, meanwhile, have adopted a platform calling for a $15 federal minimum wage.
We’re not letting Republicans in Congress run away and hide! Join us on Twitter, and send them these messages now! Retweet these tweets! Copy them and post them on Twitter yourself as well. Tell Republicans in Congress that it’s time to raise the federal minimum wage.
Governor Mike Pence @mike_pence
Hey @mike_pence, your running mate said he’d raise the min wage to $10. You used to think $7.25 was too high. Where do you stand now?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
.@mike_pence: @realDonaldTrump can’t decide on raising the minimum wage. You’ve always fought it—how ’bout now? pic.twitter.com/R94fET0LpB
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Lamar Alexander @SenAlexander
Hey @SenAlexander—in 2013 you didn’t believe in a minimum wage. Now that your party’s nominee for POTUS said he’d raise it, how do you feel?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Mark Kirk @SenatorKirk
.@SenatorKirk: In 2014, you opposed raising the federal min wage. Now that @realDonaldTrump wants to do just that, how do you feel?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Pat Toomey @SenToomey
.@SenToomey voted against a higher min wage in 2014 b/c “it would kill jobs” but @realDonaldTrump just said he’d raise it to $10. What now?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Ron Johnson @SenRonJohnson
Hey @SenRonJohnson—3 yrs ago you wanted NO federal minimum wage, but now @realDonaldTrump wants a HIGHER one. Does that change things?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Mitch McConnell @SenateMajLdr
.@SenateMajLdr: @realDonaldTrump would raise the min wage, but in 2014 you thought that “could destroy as many as 1 million jobs”. What now?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Rep. Paul Ryan @SpeakerRyan
Hey @SpeakerRyan, last time we checked, you were against a higher minimum wage. How do you feel now that @realDonaldTrump wants to raise it?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator John McCain @SenJohnMcCain
.@SenJohnMcCain we know you’ve opposed raising the minimum wage 15+ times, but now that @realDonaldTrump wants to raise it…thoughts?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016
Senator Kelly Ayotte @KellyAyotte
.@KellyAyotte: In 2014, you said raising the minimum wage would mean fewer jobs. How do you feel now that @realDonaldTrump is in favor?
— NELP Action (@NELPaction) July 28, 2016