State of Tennessee secondary Archives: on Jobs

Bob Corker: Minimum wage needs increase; but reduce burden too

CORKER: I’ve had minimum wage jobs--unlike my opponent. The minimum wage is behind the times, since it hasn’t been adjusted for 10 years. We need to look at regions around the country and their cost-of-living. But I’d like to lessen the burden of taxation and regulation on small businesses.

FORD: Corker in the primary was opposed to the minimum wage increase. I’ve supported it every year in Congress. I did work in minimum wage jobs--as a parking attendant in college

Harold Ford: Consistently supports minimum wage increase

CORKER: I've had minimum wage jobs--unlike my opponent. The minimum wage is behind the times, since it hasn't been adjusted for 10 years. We need to look at regions around the country and their cost-of-living. But I'd like to lessen the burden of taxation and regulation on small businesses.

FORD: Corker in the primary was opposed to the minimum wage increase. I've supported it every year in Congress. I did work in minimum wage jobs--as a parking attendant in college

Terry Adams: The minimum wage rewards work: increase it

My support in favor of the increasing minimum wage is fundamental. The minimum wage rewards work. If someone in the United States of America works forty hours per week, they should not live in poverty. In addition, when the minimum wage goes up, it puts money in the hands of people who will spend it locally, often in small businesses which helps everyone.

Imagine raising a family working forty hours per week, fifty-two weeks per year for the last five years at minimum wage. You would have made $15,080 dollars per year without one day of vacation or a sick day. You are also likely dependent upon housing assistance, food assistance, and Medicaid provided by the taxpayers. Meanwhile, after-tax corporate profits have averaged 9.2% of the economy, the highest since the 1920s.