Mayor Gray vetoes ‘living wage’ bill aimed at Wal-Mart, setting up decisive council vote

[hack89]

Source: Washington Post

Gray (D) announced his veto in a letter to Council Chairman Phil Mendelson delivered Thursday morning that explained his opposition to the bill and disclosed his intention to seek a minimum-wage hike for all employers, not just large retailers.

In the letter, Gray said the bill was “not a true living-wage bill, because it would raise the minimum wage only for a small fraction of the District’s workforce.” He added the bill is a “job-killer,” citing threats from Wal-Mart and other retailers that they will not locate to the city if the bill becomes law.

“If I were to sign this bill into law, it would do nothing but hinder our ability to create jobs, drive away retailers, and set us back on the path to prosperity for all,” he said.

Gray did not say what minimum wage he would seek except that there should be a “reasonable increase.”

Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/mayor-gray-vetoes-living-wage-bill-aimed-at-wal-mart-setting-up-decisive-council-vote/2013/09/12/664d7310-077d-11e3-a07f-49ddc7417125_story.html?wpisrc=al_locmisc

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I support a higher minimum wage for all workers. If a business can't afford then perhaps they shouldn't be in business.

[gopiscrap]

1. that's fucked up, Wal Mart must have got to him.

[DallasNE]

4. Well, Duh

He even admits as much with his comment regarding Wal-Mart.

[gopiscrap]

5. It just pisses me off

get fucking money out of politics

[mtasselin]

7. out

Get him out of politics.

[mopinko]

2. hope they can override this.

unlike chicago.
and i warn the council members that voted for it to watch their back. the waltons are a nasty bunch.

[paulrandfu]

3. Politicians in both parties know

Never bite the hand that feeds you.

[florida08]

6. The great lie

"job killer" when they actually know it's the opposite. US is the only place Walmart gets away with this. Keep defunding the working class. They will eventually come after you with pitchforks.

[wordpix]

8. "citing threats from Walmart" - obviously WM got to him

And using the repugs' "job killer" rhetoric does not endear him, either. He's been a disappointment since he took office.

[EC]

9. I'll bet he will not increase wages for all.

It's likely an excuse not to sign the existing one which could have been a good start. He just chickened out and Walmart won again.