Trammell Dispels Opponent's Minimum Wage Statements

'Dave just gets it all wrong with his no rules market theories'

Richmond, Virginia - October 30, 2014 - Jack Trammell, Democratic candidate in Virginia's 7th congressional district, said his opponent Dave Brat is simply wrong about minimum wage and is peddling fear in order to advance his own brand of extremist economics.

"In a forum last Tuesday, Dave asked the audience to "look at Seattle," to see that restaurants immediately began firing waiters and waitresses upon announcement of the wage increase. But the reality is he has it all wrong. The first step of Seattle's minimum wage doesn't go into effect until April 1, 2015. At Seatac, the city's airport, the $15 hourly wage is in full effect - but off of airport property," Trammell.

Trammell, who supports increasing the federal minimum wage, said cities that raise their minimum wage above the state minimum tend to experience more job growth during economic expansions and slower job losses during recessions. States that raise their minimum wage above the federal minimum wage account for 9 of the 10 fastest-growth states in terms of jobs.

"Dave just gets it all wrong with his no rules market theories. When workers and families have more money, businesses have more customers. I support growing our economy by increasing jobs - and I support the growth of our small businesses," Trammell said.

Trammell said researchers and experts consistently find that minimum wage laws raise pay for workers at the bottom rungs of the labor market and raising the wage also pushes up the wage floor relative to median wage, thereby reducing pay inequality.

"By now, Americans have figured out that trickle down economics don't work. Our economic growth needs to come from the middle and the bottom. This is the way we will pull out of the lingering recession and forge a path forward," Trammell said.

Citing Ron Unz in the American Conservative, Trammell said only 20 percent of current jobs require a bachelors' degree.

"In addition to raising the minimum wage, we should be looking ahead to train the workforce for our future. Some estimates show that even by 2020, 70 percent of all jobs will require only a high school diploma. It is critical that we examine America's role in a global economy and figure out how we remain competitive. We can do that by increasing funding for technical schools, evaluating our academic testing and reforming student loan programs," Trammell said.

Beth Cope, campaign manager for Trammell, said Brat's economic fear mongering isn't based in reality.

"Just in time for Halloween, Brat's voodoo economics strikes again," said Cope. "We're happy to set the record straight."