Letter to the Editor

Recently, Republican Senate nominee Ed Gillespie was a guest on MSNBC’s Morning Joe. In his appearance, Gillespie said that he doesn’t believe in a “federally mandated increase in the minimum wage”. For someone who is running to represent our interests in the Senate, Mr. Gillespie apparently doesn’t know how important that minimum wage is to thousands of Madisonians and millions of Virginians.

What Mr. Gillespie apparently fails to appreciate is that the minimum wage isn’t just for high school kids trying to earn an extra buck at a summer job – families all across the state rely on that minimum wage to put bread on the table, clothe their children and keep the lights on. No hardworking, full time wage earner should have to raise a family in poverty in this country.

As it currently stands, the minimum wage is worth $2 less than it was in 1968 when adjusted for inflation. For that reason – and because the minimum wage is no longer anywhere near a livable wage – there is wide bipartisan support for raising it. As a practical matter alone, a living wage helps reduce dependence on social services, boosts the economy, reduces crime and dramatically improves likely outcomes for children. It is the right thing to do.

This November, we will be supporting the man who is open to having a discussion about how and when to raise the minimum wage without unfairly impacting small business owners. We believe that man is Mark Warner.

Ren LeVally
Courthouse Mountain