Q: Raise the federal minimum wage from current $7.25/hr?
Tim Kaine (D): Yes. Co-sponsored $15/hour proposal.
Corey Stewart (R): No public statements found.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Virginia Senate race
, Oct 9, 2018
Trump is "You're fired"; Hillary is "You're hired"
On the economy, there's a fundamental choice for the American electorate. Do you want a "you're hired" president in Hillary Clinton or do you want a "you're fired" president in Donald Trump? Hillary and I have a plan that's on the table that's a "you're
hired" 5-point plan [for investment, wage fairness, and middle-class growth].
The Trump plan is a different plan. It's a "you're fired" plan. And there's two key elements to it. First, Donald Trump said wages are too high. And both Donald Trump & Mike
Pence think we ought to eliminate the federal minimum wage. Mike Pence, when he was in Congress, voted against raising the minimum wage above $5.15. And he has been a one-man bulwark against minimum wage increases in Indiana.
The second component of
their plan is massive tax breaks for the very top, trillions of dollars of tax breaks for people just like Donald Trump. Independent analysts say the Clinton plan would grow the economy by 10.5 million jobs. The Trump plan would cost 3.5 million jobs.
VA had low unemployment rates during worst of recession
When I was governor, during the worst recession since the Great Depression, Virginia maintained one of the lowest unemployment rates in America. We kept our AAA bond rating. We were named most business-friendly state, best managed state
and best state to raise a child.
We cut billions from the state budget, while making critical investments in schools, roads and bridges. We worked with Democrats, Republicans and independents to get results.
Source: 2012 Democratic National Convention speech
, Sep 4, 2012
Close the gender pay gap
Tim has fought for policies that would help close the gender pay gap and ensure women are receiving equal pay for equal work. He's concerned by the adverse impact that wage discrimination continues to have on families and the
U.S. economy by providing working families with less income to spend at local businesses and hurting their ability to save for retirement. In the Senate,
Source: Virginia 2012 Senate campaign website KaineForVA.com
, Feb 29, 2012
Endorsed by Virginia AFL-CIO for US Senator
The Virginia AFL-CIO announced the unanimous endorsement of Kaine for US Senate. The Virginia AFL-CIO President stated, "Particularly during a time of economic distress, working men and women need a Senator who understands the very real challenges they
face in their daily lives. Our endorsement of Tim Kaine is based upon his commitment on issues of top concern to Virginia's working families: creating jobs; investing in infrastructure and education; ensuring quality, affordable health care; and q
improving the quality of life in our communities."
"My number one priority in the Senate will be creating good-paying jobs and ensuring fairness in our economy," said Tim Kaine. "In Virginia, we've worked hard to create an environment
where business and labor work with, not against, each other, and I want to help facilitate that same partnership all across this country as a US Senator."
Source: Virginia AFL-CIO press release
, Jan 29, 2012
Today's minimum wage is not enough to take care of a family
Our economy would not be what it is today without our outstanding workforce. Virginia is blessed with a deep talent pool--our high median income and low unemployment rate prove that fact. But, we can do even more to give our people and businesses the
skills they need to succeed in today's competitive marketplace. I am working diligently on your directive that we streamline an overly complicated workforce training system. The continuous improvement of our human capital has to be our top economic
development priority.
And we have to reward work. Today's minimum wage means that some Virginians work 40 hours a week, 52 weeks a year, and earn less than $11,000. That is not enough to take care of a family, not enough to buy a home,
not enough to afford health insurance. I look forward to working with you to make a change for the better for our working families by passing a fair increase in our minimum wage.
Sponsored bill for strengthening union organizing.
Kaine co-sponsored PRO Act
H.R.842 & S.420: Protecting the Right to Organize Act: This bill expands various labor protections related to employees` rights to organize and collectively bargain in the workplace:
revises the definitions of employee, supervisor, and employer to broaden the scope of individuals covered by the fair labor standards;
permits labor organizations to encourage participation of union members in strikes initiated by employees represented by a different labor organization (i.e., secondary strikes); and
prohibits employers from bringing claims against unions that conduct such secondary strikes.
The bill also allows collective bargaining agreements to require all employees represented by the bargaining unit to contribute fees to the labor organization for the cost of such representation.
Biden Administration in SUPPORT: The Administration strongly supports The PRO Act. America was not built by Wall Street. It was built by the middle class,
and unions built the middle class. Unions put power in the hands of workers. H.R. 842 would strengthen and protect workers` right to form a union by assessing penalties on employers who violate workers` right to organize.
Rep. Mo Brooks in OPPOSITION: H.R. 842 [is] a radical union bill that tramples the rights of citizens by forcing them to enter into union servitude, including:
Overturns right-to-work laws in 27 states, thereby forcing citizens, against their will, to pay millions of dollars in dues to labor unions.
Denies citizens` rights to vote by secret ballot on whether to join a union by imposing a biased `card-check` scheme.
Deprives individuals of entrepreneurial opportunities. The PRO Act would eliminate the franchise industry and sharing economy as we know them.
Legislative Outcome:Passed House 222-204-4 (Rollcall 82) on 03/09/2021; received and read in the Senate on 3/23; no further Senate action during 2021.