Cross-posted from my campaign blog
It is amazing to me that the Do Nothing Republican Congress, which claims to believe in smaller government and returning power to the states, is talking about passing a minimum wage change that would supercede the current Oregon minimum wage.
Tip money earned by waitresses in Las Vegas, manicurists in Hollywood and bartenders in Seattle is on the table in the nation's capital, as lawmakers scrap over an election-year minimum wage bill.
Nevada, California and Washington are among seven states where workers get to keep their tips on top of getting paid their state's full minimum wage. In other states, tip-earning workers get paid less and make up the difference with tips.
A provision in Republican-written minimum wage legislation passed by the House and under consideration this week by the Senate could change the law in those seven states - the others are Montana, Alaska, Minnesota and Oregon. It would deal a pay cut of $3 or more an hour to thousands of waiters, bellhops and hairdressers in those states, according to Democrats and labor groups. [emphasis added]
I believe in our hardest workers, and any effort to reduce the minimum wage is unacceptable. This is the kind of "leadership" we get from Republicans in DC. The scary thing is that it is even worse in Salem, and my opponent is one of the key reasons for this.
Wayne Scott is Salem's chief obstructionist, blocking bills that help our citizens and supporting bills that keep our citizens from getting further ahead. Whether its choosing predatory lenders over hard working Oregonians, siding with the insurance and pharmaceutical lobbies instead of the uninsured and the underinsured, cutting state troopers, or supporting legislation that would help his own comanies and hurt other small businesses, Scott has repeatedly shown that he puts the priorities of the big special interests over those of his constituents.
It's time for change in this country and in Oregon, and with the support of the Netroots, in addition to SEIU (Oregon's largest union) and many other citizens and unions in Oregon we will send a clear message that it's time for a new direction.
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Mike Caudle is the Democratic nominee for the Oregon House of Representatives from the 39th district, which encompasses Oregon City, Canby and surrounding Clackamas County. To learn more about Mike, visit mikecaudle.com, Mike's campaign blog, Mike's Facebook group or Mike's ActBlue page.