On Labor Day, we celebrate the American worker. Here in New Jersey last year we showed our appreciation when voters approved an increase in the state’s minimum wage. The concept is simple: fair pay for a fair day’s work, and increased purchasing power for hard-working men and women who often live paycheck to paycheck. Since then, along with the increased wages, as a state we’ve had faster job creation and reduced unemployment. In fact, every state that has raised its minimum wage recently is adding jobs faster than those that have not. This November, I will stand for election to the U.S. House of Representatives, and if successful, my first act as a member of Congress will be to call for an increase to the national minimum wage to $10.10 an hour. It’s the right thing to do at the right time for our working families. That doesn’t mean it will be easy. The Republicans in Congress oppose it, as they oppose a lot of things. But let me say what I support. I favor increasing the minimum wage. I want to strengthen Medicare and Social Security. I want to invest in our future, in infrastructure and education. I want women to get the same pay for the same work as a man and I don’t want to see them get charged higher rates than men for essential health care coverage. I want to reward businesses that create jobs for Americans, and stop the widespread corporate practice of offshoring jobs and profits to avoid their obligations to the country and the people that have given them so much. I want to address big issues – like increasing access to affordable, top-quality higher education and vocational training. In short, I want to work on the issues that matter most to South Jersey’s working families. That’s where I differ from the majority of the members of Congress who seem more interested in helping themselves or their political party than the people they represent. I’m interested in getting things done that will improve the lives of our families, our seniors, and our children. And no, I don’t care if you’re a Democrat, a Republican, or anything else. I want to work with anyone that’s serious about serving the best interests of the American people. So I’m sure you’re saying, “Good luck with that.” I know it won’t be easy. But we’re all pretty much disgusted with the endless bickering and dysfunction down in Washington, and I think it’s time for a culture shift. The issues are too real, and too important, to just throw up our hands. I choose to stand for something – for the interests of America’s middle-class – and I ask all hardworking people of good faith to stand with me. We raised the minimum wage here in New Jersey because the majority of us felt it was the right thing to do – and it’s working. We can do more, we can do better, and we can do it if we work together. Let’s make this Labor Day the first day of our shared effort to reclaim our nation’s capitol in the name of America’s working families. Sincerely, Donald Norcross
Posted on: Mon, 01 Sep 2014 21:02:46 +0000
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