Cynthia McKinney on Jobs

Green Party Presidential challenger (Former Rep., D, GA-4)

If minimum wage kept up with CEO pay, it'd be $22/hour

Instead of a livable wage, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi put an increase in the minimum wage. If the minimum wage had kept up with the stratospheric height of CEO remuneration, the minimum wage would be 22 dollars an hour.

It is not sufficient given the income inequality that exists in our country and the erosion of value of workers' wages.

Source: IPS News interview by Matthew Cardinale Mar 22, 2008

Authored a living wage bill

Q: Briefly state your position on the following issue: Living Wage.

A: I authored a living wage bill in the 109th Congress.

Source: Green Party 2008 Presidential Candidate Questionnaire Feb 3, 2008

Gainful employment at a guaranteed income for every family

Reconstruction Party Manifesto point #2. We Want Full Employment Now!
We want the definition of national security to include the general wellbeing of U.S. citizens and residents. No children in this rich country should be raised below the poverty line. We believe that the federal government is responsible and obligated to implement an economic policy that provides an opportunity for every family to have gainful employment at a guaranteed income. Source: Manifesto for a Reconstruction Party Jan 26, 2008

Unions essential to protecting wages & worker safety

The rights of workers to organize and form unions is an important right essential to protecting adequate wages, worker safety and health, and job security. Through proposed legislation that would undercut job training and apprenticeship, remove rights to organize and collectively bargain, and restrict union speech activities, efforts continue to rescind and restrict traditional rights of workers. I oppose these and other efforts to rollback existing rights of workers. Source: Campaign website, www.cynthiaforcongress.com, "Issues" Dec 20, 2007

Debt relief for black farmers who were cheated in '80s loans

McKinney introduced the following bill in the 109th Congress: H.R.3998: To provide farm debt and program relief to African-American farmers who suffered discrimination in the administration of Department of Agriculture farm credit programs and other agriculture programs, and for other purposes

Forgives all indebtedness, in connection with all farm operating loan program debt agreements entered into with the Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Consolidated Farm and Rural Development Act, and requires payment of the minimum relief raised in the combined cases Pigford et al. v. Glickman and Brewington et al v. Glickman, with respect to each African-American farmer who: (1) was an "actual farmer" during the period beginning on January 1, 1981, & extending through December 30, 1996; and (2) applied for, but failed to receive, farm credit program debt relief pursuant to specified federal law or through the Black Farmer Settlement as authorized by the previously mentioned cases.

Source: Campaign website, www.cynthiaforcongress.com, "Legislation" Nov 1, 2006

Voted YES on $167B over 10 years for farm price supports.

Vote to authorize $167 billion over ten years for farm price supports, food aid and rural development. Payments would be made on a countercyclical program, meaning they would increase as prices dropped. Conservation acreage payments would be retained. Bill HR 2646 ; vote number 2001-371 on Oct 5, 2001

Voted NO on zero-funding OSHA's Ergonomics Rules instead of $4.5B.

Vote to pass a resolution to give no enforcement authority or power to ergonomics rules submitted by the Labor Department during the Clinton Administration. These rules would force businesses to take steps to prevent work-related repetitive stress disorders. Reference: Sponsored by Nickles, R-OK; Bill S J Res 6 ; vote number 2001-33 on Mar 7, 2001

Sponsored bill requiring disclosure of outsourced employees.

McKinney sponsored requiring full disclosure of outsourced employees

OFFICIAL CONGRESSIONAL SUMMARY: Transparency and Responsibility for US Trade Health Act (TRUTH Act): Requires a US national that employs individuals in a foreign country, either directly or through subsidiaries, to take necessary steps to provide transparency and public disclosure in all its operations.

EXCERPTS OF BILL:

A national of the US that employs one or more individuals in a foreign country, either directly or through subsidiaries or licensees (including any security forces of the national), shall take the necessary steps to provide transparency and disclosure in all its operations, including the full public disclosure of the following:
Information relating to location, address, and corporate name of all facilities abroad
Applicable financial agreements and investments of partners and subcontractors
Worker rights practices and labor standards, including any complaints from employees and violations of local labor laws.
Age, gender, and number of employees in each facility.
Wages paid to employees, including policies on overtime pay.
Working conditions based on current OSHA standards for similar operations.
Environmental performance, including toxic release inventory.

The human rights policy, any complaints received from local communities, and any human rights lawsuits filed.

LEGISLATIVE OUTCOME:Referred to House Committee on International Relations; never came to a vote.

Source: TRUTH Act of 2001 (H.R.460) 01-HR0460 on Feb 6, 2001

Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs. Click here for a profile of Cynthia McKinney. Click here for HouseMatch answers by Cynthia McKinney. Agree? Disagree? Voice your opinions on Jobs in The Forum. Click here for a summary of Cynthia McKinney's positions on all issues. Click here for issue positions of other GA politicians.
*Other candidates on Jobs:*		*Cynthia McKinney on other issues:*
*GA Gubernatorial:* Sonny Perdue *GA Senatorial:* Dale Cardwell Johnny Isakson Saxby Chambliss Democratic retirements & special elections: D,AL-5:Cramer D,CA-12:Lantos D,CO-2:Udall D,IN-7:Carson D,NY-21:McNulty D,ME-1:Allen D,MD-4:Wynn D,NM-3:Udall D,OR-5:Hooley *Republican special elections:* R,IL-14:Hastert R,LA-1:Jindal R,LA-6:Baker R,MS-1:Wicker R,OH-5:Gillmor	*Republican retirements:* R,AL-2:Everett R,AZ-1:Renzi R,CA-4:Doolittle R,CA-52:Hunter R,CO-6:Tancredo R,FL-15:Weldon R,IL-11:Weller R,IL-18:LaHood R,KY-2:Lewis R,LA-4:McCrery R,MD-1:Gilchrest R,MN-3:Ramstad R,MO-9:Hulshof R,MS-3:Pickering R,NJ-3:Saxton R,NJ-7:Ferguson R,NM-1:Wilson R,NM-2:Pearce R,NY-13:Fossella R,NY-25:Walsh R,NY-26:Reynolds R,OH-7:Hobson R,OH-15:Pryce R,OH-16:Regula R,PA-5:Peterson R,VA-11:Davis R,WY-0:Cubin	Abortion Budget/Economy Civil Rights Corporations Crime Drugs Education Energy/Oil Environment Families/Children Foreign Policy Free Trade Govt. Reform Gun Control Health Care Homeland Security Immigration Infrastructure/Technology Jobs Principles/Values Social Security Tax Reform War/Iraq/Mideast Welfare/Poverty

Page last updated: Jul 04, 2008