I’m pretty sure that Bill Brady’s campaign manager has been trying to get the above phrase into his idiot candidate’s head for the last few months. It’s not working:
SPRINGFIELD — Republican governor candidate Sen. Bill Brady today said he supports lowering Illinois’ minimum wage if he wins in November and the state rate remains higher than the federal one.
“For the state of Illinois to come in and micromanage wages above the federal minimum wage is a mistake,” Brady, a state senator from Bloomington, told reporters.
Illinois’ minimum wage will rise a quarter to $8.25 an hour on July 1, a dollar above the $7.25 federal minimum wage that took effect last July.
Gov. Pat Quinn, Brady’s Democratic opponent, has been touting the state increase this week as he makes appearances throughout Illinois. The state rate also will be a dollar higher than all of Illinois’ bordering states, according to the U.S. Labor Department.
Brady, speaking after an appearance at a VFW convention, initially hedged on saying whether he would support rolling back the state minimum wage to the federal level if he becomes the state’s chief executive.
“I disagree with trying to elevate the minimum wage above the federal level,” he said. “The federal level is a competitive level, competing with neighboring states. We are losing jobs because private sector business investments (are) going to other states.”
Pressed further, Brady acknowledged he backs bringing down Illinois’ minimum wage to the federal level if it remained lower than the state rate once if he becomes governor.
“I would support equaling, uh, adopting the federal minimum wage, yes,” Brady said.
The primary way that Pat Quinn can possibly win in November is Bill Brady telling the people of Illinois what he actually believes. You can make some complicated argument about whether a higher minimum wage is a good idea from an economic efficiency argument all you want, but that boils down to a campaign commercial that says “Bill Brady wants to reduce the minimum wage.” This is true, though not very detailed, and very unpopular.
Bill Brady will never listen to me for campaign advice so I feel entirely free to say that keeping his mouth shut and looking pretty is his best shot.
Oh, for a true headline writer at one of our state’s “news”papers. The front page practically writes itself!
Brady to Working Poor: You earn too damn much money