Former Congressman Bob Dold still can’t escape his record of serving as a reliable Republican vote for policies that reward the special interests and the ultra-wealthy at the expense of middle class families. In yet another candidate forum, Bob Dold struggled to defend his record on the minimum wage.
Dold still hasn’t recovered from his comments saying he was open to lowering the minimum wage. When asked this week at a forum, “So $10.10 would not be your number,” Dold said, “I don’t know what the number would be.”
Dold has consistently refused to name a target for what the minimum wage should be raised to during the campaign and this is the second debate where Dold evaded a simple question on what the minimum wage should be.
“Former Congressman Bob Dold made it clear in 2010 that he would lower the minimum wage in Illinois and take money away from hard-working families and no amount of vague half measures from him now can change that,” said Brandon Lorenz of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee. “Former Congressman Bob Dold’s attempt to pander to voters with empty promises to distract from his plan to lower the minimum wage and how he was a reliable Republican vote to cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans and pay for it by raising taxes on the middle class.”
BACKGROUND:
Congressman Dold Supported Lowering the Minimum Wage. In 2010, Dold was asked if he’d support a reduction in the minimum wage. “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]
2012: Congressman Dold Voted for the Extreme House Republican Budget That Would “Scrap Most Taxes on Overseas Profits” and Would Repeal “New Federal Restrictions on Wall Street.” In March 2012, Congressman Dold voted for the FY 2013 House Republican budget. CBS News explained that the budget would “scrap most taxes on overseas profits.” The Los Angeles Times editorial board explained that the budget would repeal “new federal restrictions on Wall Street” and the Madison Cap Times explained that budget was “for Wall Street.” The budget resolution was adopted, 228-191. [H Con Res 112, Vote #151, 3/29/12; CBS News, 3/20/12; Editorial, Los Angeles Times, 3/21/12; Madison Cap Times, 3/29/12]
2011: Congressman Dold Voted for the Radical House Republican Budget that the AARP said Would “Remove Medicare’s Promise” and Would Increase Medicare Costs by $6,400. In 2011, Congressman Dold voted for the FY 2012 House Republican budget. In 2011, USA Today reported that the House Republican budget passed in April would cost Medicare beneficiaries an average of $6,400 more annually, based on estimates from the Congressional Budget Office. The AARP explained that the budget would “Remove Medicare’s promise.” The bill passed 235-193. [H Con Res 34, Vote #277, 4/15/11; USA Today, 10/03/11; AARP, 4/06/11]