RICHMOND – Democratic legislators, union officials and advocates for low-income Virginians urged the General Assembly on Tuesday to raise the state’s minimum wage and approve other economic measures t
RICHMOND – Democratic legislators, union officials and advocates for low-income Virginians urged the General Assembly on Tuesday to raise the state’s minimum wage and approve other economic measures to benefit working families.
Virginia’s Economic Opportunity Coalition highlighted its goals for the 2015 legislative session, including requiring businesses to give workers paid sick days and establishing a tax credit for low-income taxpayers.
Two Democratic lawmakers – Del. Kenneth R. Plum of Reston and Sen. David W. Marsden of Burke – attended the coalition’s press conference and spoke in support of its goals.
Plum is a chief patron of House Bill 1654, which would raise the minimum wage from the federally mandated $7.25 an hour to $8 in July and $10 by mid-2017. Plum also is sponsoring HB 1831, which would allow low-income individuals and couples to claim a refundable income tax credit equal to 10 percent of the federal earned income tax credit.
HB 1654 and HB 1831 are awaiting action by House committees.
Plum said his proposals would not only help working families but also create more consumers and, in turn, boost the economy. He acknowledged that it may take time for the measures to win approval.
“You know Virginia tends to be a fairly conservative state,” Plum said. “We can’t stand too much shock and trauma, so let’s do this the Virginia way, but let’s do it. Let’s take the steps necessary to move forward on the minimum wage.”
Marsden is the chief sponsor of Senate Bill 681, which sought to raise the minimum wage to $8 an hour this July and eventually to $10.10 an hour by July 2017. His bill was killed Monday in the Senate Commerce and Labor Committee.
Marsden was frustrated by the outcome. He said committee members did not seriously discuss what he called one of the most significant issues in Virginia this year.
“Last year when the bill passed out of the Senate, Republicans fought back,” Marsden said. “They argued with me, they were defiant, they cited examples of why this isn’t a good idea. You know what they did this year? They looked down – couldn’t look me in the eye.”
Also speaking in support of raising the minimum wage and offering tax credits to low-income taxpayers were:
· David Broder, president of Service Employees International Union – Virginia 512
· Doris Crouse-Mays, president of the Virginia AFL-CIO
· Michael Cassidy, president and CEO of the Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis
“Making just half of our earned income credit refundable would put roughly $40 million back into the pockets of working families,” Cassidy said.
“And that is good for Virginia’s businesses and our economy. That’s because low-wage workers typically spend almost everything that they earn, so they’re going to turn around and spend that $40 million buying goods and services at their local businesses.”
Crouse-Mays said Virginia should lead other states in passing such laws. “No one who works full time should have to raise their family in poverty.”
Anna Scholl, executive director of ProgressVA, an advocacy group for low-income Virginians, said workers also deserve paid sick days. Giving workers time off when they or their children are ill would result in healthier schools and workplaces, Scholl said.
