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Joe Biden possible presidential campaign, 2016/Labor and employment
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 Joe Biden |
Vice President of the United States (2009-2017) U.S. Senator (1973-2009) |
 Democratic candidates: |
2028 • 2024 • 2020 • 2016 |
This page was current as of the 2016 election.
- Joe Biden defended unions at a meeting of the International Association of Fire Fighters in March 2015. Biden said, "There is a concentrated, well-organized, well-paid, well-funded effort to undermine organized labor, And they've been remarkably successful. You, labor writ large, are the only thing that stands between the people's interest and the special interests owning it all. They know without you it's a clear shot at whatever they want. That's why they're so intent on breaking you."[1]
| Biden discusses the minimum wage during his weekly address from the White House in March 2014. |
- In March 2014, Biden issued a weekly address from the White House where he advocated for raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $10.10. Biden said, "Not only would it put more hard-earned money into the pockets of 28 million Americans, moving millions of them out of poverty, it’s also good for business. And let me tell you why. There’s clear data that shows fair wages generate loyalty of workers to their employers, which has the benefit of increasing productivity and leading to less turn over. It’s really good for the economy as a whole because raising the minimum wage would generate an additional $19 billion in additional income for people who need it the most."[2]
- Biden previously supported increasing the federal minimum wage in 2007, voting in favor of H R 2 - Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 and H R 2206 - U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007. These two bills sought to amend the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 to increase the federal minimum wage to $7.25 over the course of two years. H R 2206 became law on May 25, 2007.[3][4]
- During a radio address in December 2010, Biden argued for the extension of unemployment benefits. Biden said Congress should "extend unemployment insurance for Americans who have lost their jobs in a tough economy. Without unemployment benefits, families can’t spend on basic necessities that are grown, made, and sold by other Americans. Together, the economic hit caused by raising taxes on the middle class, and denying two million Americans unemployment insurance, will wind up costing us hundreds of thousands of more jobs. It just isn’t smart. And, cutting unemployment insurance is not only not smart, it’s not right either. It would mean telling millions of our neighbors who are out of work today through no fault of their own, that they’re on their own."[5]
- Under the Obama-Biden New Energy for America plan, first presented in 2008, Biden sought to create millions of new green jobs by weatherizing one million homes each year, deploying clean coal technology and prioritizing construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.[6]
- In 2007, Biden voted to end debate on H R 800 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2007, a bill designed to increase protections for employees establishing or joining labor unions.[7][8]
Recent news
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See also
Footnotes
- ↑ The Huffington Post, "Joe Biden Warns The Right Is 'Intent On Breaking' Labor Unions," March 9, 2015
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Weekly Address: Raise The Minimum Wage – It’s The Right Thing To Do For Hardworking Americans," March 29, 2014
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2 - Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007," accessed June 1, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.2206 - U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007," accessed June 1, 2015
- ↑ WhiteHouse.gov, "Weekly Address: Vice President Biden Calls on Congress to Preserve the Middle Class Tax Cuts and to Extend Unemployment Insurance This Year," December 4, 2010
- ↑ Change.gov, "The Obama-Biden Plan," accessed July 17, 2015
- ↑ Congress.gov, "H.R.800 - Employee Free Choice Act of 2007," accessed June 2, 2015
- ↑ Senate.gov, "On the Cloture Motion (Motion to Invoke Cloture on the Motion to Proceed to Consider H.R.800)," accessed June 2, 2015
