House Republicans to working families: Drop dead

Today, the House Democratic Caucus released the following joint statement from Democratic Leader David Toscano (D-57) and Caucus Chair Scott Surovell (D-44) slamming House Republicans for voting against legislation that would work towards building a new Virginia economy. This legislation included: raising the minimum wage, protecting low-income workers from predatory lenders, closing the gender pay gap, and establishing paid sick leave — kitchen table issues working families care about. House Republicans killed such legislation today.

“Working families needed their elected officials to stand up for them, and today in the House, the Republican Caucus failed those working families. Commonsense policies like raising the minimum wage, paid sick leave, regulating predatory lenders, and closing the gender pay gap — policies that would help strengthen the middle class — should not be partisan or divisive,” said Leader Toscano and Caucus Chair Surovell. “In a new Virginia economy, every Virginian deserves to make a living wage that will enable them to support themselves and their families. Twenty states raised their minimum wage on January 1, and it’s time for Virginia to do the same.”