DEBATE: McFadden Would Eliminate The Federal Minimum Wage

Investment banker Mike McFadden has told Minnesotans time and again that he would put profits over people and not only oppose raising the federal minimum, but that he would do away with it altogether.

McFadden told MinnPost in May that he does not support an increase in the federal minimum wage and has said repeatedly that if it were up to him he would eliminate it, saying “there shouldn’t be a single federal wage” and that it “doesn’t make sense.”

FACT: MIKE MCFADDEN NOT ONLY OPPOSES RAISING THE FEDERAL MINIMUM WAGE, HE  DOESN’T THINK WE SHOULD EVEN HAVE ONE

McFadden Opposed Raising The Federal Minimum Wage, Said It Would “Destroy Jobs.” In May 2014, MinnPost asked McFadden, “So you don’t support a federal increase?” He responded, “Yeah that would destroy jobs. I think there’s a better way to do it. I’m a big fan of the Earned Income Tax Credit.” [MinnPost, 5/12/14]

April 2014: McFadden “Said There Shouldn’t Be A Single Federal Wage In Place For Every State.” According to the Pioneer Press. “Minimum wage: [McFadden] Called it ‘a very important safeguard.’ Said there shouldn’t be a single federal wage in place for every state, but took no position on the bill moving through the Minnesota Legislature that would raise it to $9.50 and then link it to inflation. ‘That’s a state issue.’” [St. Paul Pioneer Press, 4/10/14]

April 2014: McFadden Said, “The Idea That You Have One Wage That Is Applied Across The Whole Country Doesn’t Make Sense To Me.” In an April 2014 interview with WCCO Radio, McFadden was asked if he supported raising the federal minimum wage to $10.10 per hour. McFadden responded, “Chad, it’s a great question. And I will support anything that produces jobs and generates jobs and the minimum wage has been an important safe guard. I happen to believe uh it’s much, it, it, it, makes much more common sense to me that it’s something that’s decided locally as opposed to at the federal level. Uh, the idea that you have one wage that is applied across the whole country doesn’t make sense to me.” [WCCO Radio, 4/16/14]

May 2014: McFadden Said, “It Concerns Me That The Government Dictates A Wage Across The Whole Country.” In a May 2014 interview with MinnPost, McFadden was asked if he supported an increase in the federal minimum wage. He replied, “I support anything that increases wage and increases jobs. My concern is two-fold: One is federal versus state. It concerns me that the government dictates a wage across the whole country. As we all know, the factors that we face in Minnesota are dramatically different than New York or California or Alabama.” [MinnPost, 5/12/14]

Bottom Line: Eliminating a critical safeguard like the federal minimum wage just shows how out of touch Mike McFadden is with the struggles of middle-class families.

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The post DEBATE: McFadden Would Eliminate The Federal Minimum Wage appeared first on U.S. Senator Al Franken, Minnesota -- Official Campaign Website.