News: Ross Calls on Hutchinson to Explain Opposition to Minimum Wage Initiative

Press Release

After the Arkansas Secretary of State today certified a proposal for the November ballot to raise the state's minimum wage, Democratic nominee for governor Mike Ross reiterated his support for the measure. He also called on his opponent, Congressman Hutchinson, to explain his continued opposition to the proposal, which will raise the state's minimum wage from $6.25 an hour to $8.50 an hour gradually by 2017.

Earlier this year, Congressman Hutchinson said, "I do not support an increase in the amounts set in the ballot initiative."

Statement from Mike Ross:

"Congressman Hutchinson has voted against raising the minimum wage multiple times, he has consistently opposed this question being placed on the ballot and continues to oppose raising the state's minimum wage gradually and responsibly to $8.50 an hour. The fact that Congressman Hutchinson believes an Arkansan working 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year and never taking a day off would make too much money at $17,680 a year is more proof that he's out of touch with working Arkansas families.

"Arkansans deserve to know why Congressman Hutchinson believes $17,860 is too much money for an Arkansan working full time to earn a living and raise a family, or if he will try to rewrite history on his unpopular position much like he did on the sales tax on groceries in 2006. If voters can't trust Congressman Hutchinson to shoot straight on this issue, how can they trust him to lead on important issues as governor?

"I have consistently voted to raise the minimum wage, I signed the minimum wage petition to get the measure on the ballot, and I will proudly vote in November to give working Arkansans a raise."

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