Former Congressman Bob Dold was fired once for rewarding the special interests and the ultra-wealthy at the expense of middle class families. Now a new story in Politico shows just how hard it will be to win his old job back. While Politico reports that “support for raising the federal minimum wage is resonating with voters,” former Congressman Dold still won’t commit to raising the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour.
Last week Dold said at a forum that “I don’t know” what the minimum wage should be. Dold continued to duck the question, telling WGN that he wants a “consensus number” – even though voters overwhelmingly favor raising the minimum wage to $10.10.
“Former Congressman Bob Dold’s pandering on the minimum wage is phonier than a $2 bill – especially after he said he would actually consider lowering it,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Former Congressman Dold made it clear in 2010 that he would lower the minimum wage in Illinois and take money away from hard-working families and the longer he continues to evade the tough questions, the more clear his half-truths will be to Illinois families.”
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Dold Supported Lowering the Minimum Wage. In 2010, when asked if he’d support a reduction in the minimum wage Dold said, “I think the federal government in general needs to get out of the way, take regulation off […] Certainly lowering the minimum wage I know in my business I can’t hire anybody at the minimum wage but certainly if we lower the minimum wage more people will go back to work.” [Political Shoot-Out Interview WLS 890 AM Radio, 1/3/10]
- Economic Policy Institute: Raising the Minimum Wage Would Benefit as Many as 30 Million Americans, Generate 140,000 New Jobs. According to the Economic Policy Institute, “Increasing the federal minimum wage to $10.10 by July 1, 2015, would raise the wages of about 30 million workers, who would receive over $51 billion in additional wages over the phase-in period. […] Across the phase-in period of the minimum-wage increase, GDP would increase by roughly $32.6 billion, resulting in the creation of approximately 140,000 net new jobs (and 284,000 job years) over that period.” [Economic Policy Institute, 3/13/13]
Chicago Tribune: 69% of Illinois Voters Support Raising the Minimum Wage. According to Capitol Fax, “The [Tribune] poll found 69 percent of Illinois voters back an increase in the state’s $8.25-an-hour minimum wage to $10 by Jan. 1 for adults over age 18. Only 27 percent oppose the proposal, while 5 percent had no opinion. The statewide poll, conducted among 800 registered voters Sept. 3-12, had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.” [Capitol Fax, 9/16/14; Chicago Tribune, 9/16/14]
- Headline: Poll: Illinois voters back referendum issues [Chicago Tribune, 9/16/14]
Wall Street Journal: “Americans Strongly Favor Boosting the Federal Minimum Wage.” In 2013 the Wall Street Journal reported: “Americans strongly favor boosting the federal minimum wage to $10.10 an hour but oppose raising it above that, a Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll finds. In the survey, 63% supported a rise to $10.10 from the current $7.25 rate. Senate Democrats have proposed an increase of that size and it is supported by President Barack Obama.” [Wall Street Journal, 12/11/13]
- PPP: Illinois Voters Want to Raise Minimum Wage. In December 2013, Public Policy Polling reported: “As we’re finding most places Illinois voters strongly support raising the minimum wage to $10 an hour. 58% support such a move to only 34% who oppose it. The concept has overwhelming support from Democrats (77/19) and independents (57/30), and even 34% of Republicans favor it.” [Public Policy Polling, 12/3/13]