State of Louisiana Archives: on Jobs


John Bel Edwards: Pass a minimum wage bill, get it on my desk, I'll sign it

I am one of the overwhelming majority of Louisianans who want a meaningful increase to the minimum wage that will help workers support their families and enjoy a better quality of life. This year, instead of including a specific minimum wage bill in my package, I am supporting any and all efforts to raise the minimum wage. So my message to the Legislature is simple: pass a bill. Get it on my desk. I'll sign it.
Source: 2021 State of the State Address to Louisiana legislature Apr 12, 2021

Antoine Pierce: Higher minimum wage; strengthen unions

Pierce supports a higher minimum wage, in strengthening, rather than weakening labor unions, continuing criminal justice reform, and expanding pre-K access across Louisiana. He aims to ensure that every person in the state-- from the rural farmer to the inner-city single parent has access to healthcare. Pierce also wants to preserve individual freedoms, such as a woman's right to choose, and an adult's ability to use cannabis.
Source: Big Easy Magazine on 2020 Louisiana Senate race Mar 4, 2020

Antoine Pierce: Raise the minimum wage

Source: 2020 Louisiana Senate campaign website AntoinePierce.com Feb 4, 2020

Antoine Pierce: Repeal Right to Work

Source: 2020 Louisiana Senate campaign website AntoinePierce.com Feb 4, 2020

Eddie Rispone: Raising minimum wage would hurt economy, contract jobs

On setting a minimum wage in Louisiana higher than the federal minimum of $7.25 an hour:

Rispone: No. Rispone believes raising the minimum wage in Louisiana would hurt the economy and contract jobs.

Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race Oct 8, 2019

Eddie Rispone: Lawsuit abuse is killing jobs because of insurance costs

A major issue he's also focused on is trial lawyers and automobile insurance. "Completely being ignored until now. Did you hear anything about that? I'm going to make that so public that we're going to fix it. Then we're going to go after this lawsuit abuse. It's killing jobs in the logging industry, in the heavy hauling industry and the farmers. They're paying incredible amounts," said Rispone.
Source: KLFY News on 2019 Louisiana Gubernatorial race Sep 18, 2019

Ralph Abraham: Increasing minimum wage hurts US economy

Minimum Wage: Raise the minimum wage?

Abraham: No. Increasing Federal minimum wage would "cost the US economy tens of billions of dollars."

Bel Edwards: Yes. "Supports a modest but meaningful increase to Louisiana's minimum wage" from $7.25 to $9.00 an hour.

Eddie Rispone: No position found.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Guide to 2019 Louisiana Governor race Nov 1, 2018

John Bel Edwards: Equal pay for women; enact minimum wage

Louisiana has the highest wage inequity in the entire country. Everyone in this room should be offended that a woman makes only 66 cents for every dollar a man makes. She doesn't get charged any less when she's buying groceries for her family, and she shouldn't get paid any less when she's working the same job as a man every day. 91 percent of the people of Louisiana support the Louisiana Equal Pay Act. Why? Simply because it's the right thing to do. The same goes for raising the minimum wage. 18 states raised their minimum wage at the beginning of 2018, and yet Louisiana remains one of only 5 states not to have adopted a state minimum wage at all. Let's raise the minimum wage to $8.50 per hour over two years.
Source: 2018 Louisiana State of the State address Mar 12, 2018

John Bel Edwards: Close gender wage gap by ending corporate "pay secrecy"

I urge you to act on the wishes of an overwhelming majority of Louisianans by supporting equal pay and raising the minimum wage. Louisiana has the highest gender wage gap in the country with women making only 66 cents for every $1 a man makes. It's a simple and unassailable idea--pay a woman, who has the same job and similar qualifications, the same you would pay a man. I'm the father of two daughters, and many of you are as well. Wouldn't you want your daughter treated fairly for her hard work.

Yes, it's a fairness issue, but it's also a family issue. When a mother goes to the grocery store to buy a gallon of milk, it doesn't cost 33 percent less because she is a woman.

The legislation I am proposing would help eliminate pay secrecy by prohibiting employers from taking actions against employees for inquiring about, discussing or disclosing their wages or another employee's wages.

Source: 2017 Louisiana State of the State address Apr 10, 2017

John Bel Edwards: Meaningful increase to the minimum wage

Let's truly put our citizens first by making a modest but meaningful increase to the minimum wage.

Louisiana is one of only five states that have not adopted a state minimum wage. Forty percent of Louisiana working families do not earn enough to cover basic monthly expenses. It's time--no, past time--for us to change that. What we're proposing is to increase the minimum wage to $8.50 over a two year period. It's a simple change that will produce countless benefits.

Source: 2017 Louisiana State of the State address Apr 10, 2017

Foster Campbell: Raise the federal minimum wage

Q: Should the government raise the federal minimum wage?

Foster Campbell: Yes

Source: iSideWith.com Voter Guide on 2016 Louisiana Senate race Oct 1, 2016

Ralph Abraham: Women deserve equal pay

Monroe Mayor Jamie Mayo and Dr. Ralph Abraham both agreed that women deserve equal pay and the Keystone Pipeline expansion bill needs to be passed.

The candidates were also asked what their top priorities would be if elected. "There are many," Abraham said. "Spending has to be curtailed. Borders have to be sealed. Military has to be shored up. We have to start finding jobs, and good jobs, for our people."

Source: The News-Star on 2019 Louisiana gubernatorial race Nov 20, 2014

Bobby Jindal: Equal Pay for Women, but only for state employees

Legislative Summary: SB153: Creates the Equal Pay for Women Act.

Analysis by National Women's Law Center: The Act resembles the federal Equal Pay Act. It bans discriminatory pay based on sex, with exceptions for differences bases on seniority systems, merit systems, and systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production. Unfortunately, although the original bill covered all employers with 15 or more employees, the final bill that was enacted applies only to state employees.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 86-12-7, Vote #795 on Jun/3/13; Passed Senate 35-2-2, Vote #963 on Jun/4/13; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/18/13

Source: NWLC on Louisiana legislative voting records SB153 Jun 18, 2013

John Bel Edwards: Equal Pay for Women, but only for state employees

Legislative Summary: SB153: Creates the Equal Pay for Women Act.

Analysis by National Women's Law Center: The Act resembles the federal Equal Pay Act. It bans discriminatory pay based on sex, with exceptions for differences bases on seniority systems, merit systems, and systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production. Unfortunately, although the original bill covered all employers with 15 or more employees, the final bill that was enacted applies only to state employees.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 86-12-7, Vote #795 on Jun/3/13; State Rep. John Bel Edwards co-sponsored the bill and voted YES; Passed Senate 35-2-2, Vote #963 on Jun/4/13; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/18/13

Source: NWLC on Louisiana legislative voting records SB153 Jun 3, 2013

Lance Harris: Against Equal Pay for Women Act for state employees

Legislative Summary: SB153: Creates the Equal Pay for Women Act.

Analysis by National Women's Law Center: The Act resembles the federal Equal Pay Act. It bans discriminatory pay based on sex, with exceptions for differences bases on seniority systems, merit systems, and systems that measure earnings by quantity or quality of production. Unfortunately, although the original bill covered all employers with 15 or more employees, the final bill that was enacted applies only to state employees.

Legislative Outcome: Passed House 86-12-7, Vote #795 on Jun/3/13; State Rep. Lance Harris voted NO; Passed Senate 35-2-2, Vote #963 on Jun/4/13; Signed by Governor Bobby Jindal on Jun/18/13

Source: NWLC on Louisiana legislative voting records SB153 Jun 3, 2013

  • The above quotations are from State of Louisiana Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Jobs:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Oct 13, 2021