Voted Against Increasing The Minimum Wage, Votes With Rs 90% of the Time
Congressman Joe Heck, who votes with the Republican Party 90 percent of the time, hurts Nevada working families. Heck has voted against increasing the federal minimum wage, and has gone so far as to call for the elimination of the federal minimum wage. According to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in order for a family to afford rent on a two bedroom apartment it would require 95 hours of work on the current federal minimum wage.
“The federal minimum wage has not been increased in over a decade, which has left many Nevada families struggling to make ends meet when their rent check is due or they need to provide clothing, meals, or care for their children. There is nothing fair about denying Nevada families economic opportunity to create a better future for themselves and their families,” said President of American Bridge 21st Century Jessica Mackler. “But Nevada families can take one action towards a better future by voting against Congressman Joe Heck, who has repeatedly opposed increasing the minimum wage.”
Heck Opposes Increase To Minimum Wage
Consistently Voted Against Minimum Wage Increases
2014: Heck Effectively Voted Against Raising The Minimum Wage To $8.20 An Hour Through December 11, 2014. In September 2014, Heck effectively voted against an amendment to legislation funding the government through December 11, 2014, that, according to Congressional Quarterly, would have added “the text of a measure (HR 1010) that would amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage for employees to $8.20 an hour, $9.15 an hour after one year, and $10.10 an hour after two years.” The amendment “would [also have] extend[ed] the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank for 5 years, [] include[d] the text of a measure (HR 377) to tighten prohibitions on pay discrimination based on sex, [and] allow[ed] student loan debt to be refinanced at rates available to current borrowers.” The proposed amendment stated that the minimum wage, equal pay and student loan provisions would be effective only through December 11, 2014. The vote was on a motion to recommit the bill and report it back with the specified amendment; the House rejected the motion by a vote of 199 to 228. [House Vote 508, 9/17/14; Congressional Quarterly, 9/17/14; H.J.Res. 124, 9/17/14; Congressional Record, 9/17/14]
2013: Heck Effectively Voted Against Raising The Federal Minimum Wage To $10.10 Within Two Years. In March 2013, Heck effectively voted against an amendment that, according to Congressional Quarterly, “would [have] incrementally increase[d] the federal minimum wage to $10.10 within two years of the bill’s enactment.” The vote was on a motion to recommit the underlying bill – the proposed SKILLS Act, which would have reauthorized and overhauled 35 employment and job training programs into one funding stream for state and local use – with instructions to report it back immediately with the prescribed amendment. In addition to raising the minimum wage, the amendment would have also clarified that nothing in the bill would repeal, deny or loosen employment protections, training opportunities or educational benefits for certain seniors, veterans, women or youth. The House rejected the motion by a vote of 184 to 233. [House Vote 74, 3/15/13; Congressional Quarterly, 3/15/13; Congressional Actions, H.R. 803; Congressional Quarterly, 3/15/13]
Repeatedly Spoke Out Against The Minimum Wage
2015: Heck Proposed Eliminating The Federal Minimum Wage
August 2015: Heck Said He Did Not Believe The Federal Government “Should Get Into The Battle Over The Minimum Wage.” According to the Nevada Appeal, “He made it clear he doesn’t think the federal government should get into the battle over the minimum wage. ‘That should be left to localities,’ he said. ‘My goal as Senator is to give them (people) opportunities.’” [Nevada Appeal, 8/13/15]
2014: Heck Claimed That The Minimum Wage Did Not Help People In Poverty
VIDEO: In October 2014, Heck Argued That Doubling The Minimum Wage Would Not Help People In Poverty Working Part Time Jobs Because What They Really Needed Was “A Full Time Job.” During the 2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Joe Heck said, “Well, when you look at the working age population between 18 and 64, about 3% of them that work full time live in poverty. About 17% of them are working part time and about 33% of them are unemployed. So doubling the minimum wage is not going to help those, that 50%, that are working part time or unemployed. What they need is a job and they need a full time job. And what they need is the opportunity to get into an entry level job and learn the skills that will help them propel to a higher paying job and full time employment.” [2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Vegas PBS, Uploaded YouTube 10/21/14]
2014: Heck Claimed That Raising The Minimum Wage Would Cause “Decreased Opportunity”
VIDEO: In October 2014, Heck Said Doubling The Minimum Wage “Would Most Certainly Result In Decreased Opportunity For Those That Need The Help The Most.” During the 2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Joe Heck said, “And so doubling the minimum wage would most certainly, would most certainly result in decreased opportunity for those that need the help the most. But for those that make up that 3% that are living in poverty, like those workers at the McDonald’s at eastern and sunset, we should be targeting the help to those individuals through an expanded earned income tax credit that incentivizes work and targets the help to those individuals that need the help the most while not taking away the opportunity from those that are trying to break in to the work force and create a better economy and a better life for their families.” [2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Vegas PBS, Uploaded YouTube 10/21/14]
VIDEO: In October 2014, Heck Argued An Expansion Of The Earned Income Tax Credit Would Help Those In Need More Than Doubling The Minimum Wage For The 3% Of People In Poverty Working Full Time Jobs. During the 2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Joe Heck said, “And so doubling the minimum wage would most certainly, would most certainly result in decreased opportunity for those that need the help the most. But for those that make up that 3% that are living in poverty, like those workers at the McDonald’s at eastern and sunset, we should be targeting the help to those individuals through an expanded earned income tax credit that incentivizes work and targets the help to those individuals that need the help the most while not taking away the opportunity from those that are trying to break in to the work force and create a better economy and a better life for their families.” [2014 Congressional District 3 debate, Vegas PBS, Uploaded YouTube 10/21/14]
October 2014: Heck Claimed Unemployment And Underemployment Rates Were Too High To Raise The Minimum Wage. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, “Heck said the unemployment and under employment rates are too high to raise the minimum wage. ‘What they need is a job,’ Heck said.” [Las Vegas Review-Journal, 10/17/14]
Published: Jan 12, 2016