Issue Position: Wages

Issue Position

I support moving to a $15 minimum wage. The path to a strong middle class requires that anyone working full time be able to meet their basic needs. Instead, our minimum wage isn't keeping pace and many full-time workers are forced to rely on public programs. In 2014 Gov. Shumlin and legislative leaders supported increasing our minimum wage to $10.10 -- many of us pushed hard and we landed on $10.50 by 2018.

We can't expect the business to accept a $15 minimum wage overnight but we need to get there as soon as possible. In 2014 one of the very real impacts of our fight for $15 bill was that it helped make many legislators comfortable with the idea of getting to $10.50. As I said at the time, when I am hoping to sell a used car for $3,000 I put $4,000 on the window. Legislating takes a similar strategy and one of the historic roles I have played is helping to push the debate further than cautious lawmakers want to go.

Here's a snap shot of the 27% of Vermonters earning under $12.50.


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