NHDP - Does Jeb Bradley Believe in a Minimum wage?

Bradley Has a Decades Long History of Voting for Lower Minimum Wages

Concord - During his decades long political career Republican State Senator Jeb Bradley has consistently voted against New Hampshire workers and for the lowest available minimum wage.  Both in Washington as a member of Congress, and in Concord as a state Senator and state Representative, Bradley voted against raising the minimum wage. [HB1475, 2000 Roll Call; HR 890, Vote #319, 6/27/06]  In 2011, Bradley even voted to eliminate New Hampshire's minimum wage law entirely.  [HB133, 2011 Roll Call]

"Senator Jeb Bradley has been consistent in his irresponsible votes against New Hampshire workers, making it harder for many to earn a living and support their families," said Harrell Kirstein, communications director of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. "In the State House, Bradley once voted against raising New Hampshire's minimum wage from $5.15 per hour - more than two dollars less than today's minimum wage.  How low exactly does Jeb Bradley believe the minimum wage should be?"

This afternoon, the Senate Commerce Committee is set to vote on HB501 which would institute a minimum wage law in New Hampshire. [HB501]  Without a state minimum wage, New Hampshire workers are at the whim politicians from other states who could lower the federal minimum wage, or eliminate it altogether, leaving New Hampshire workers with no protection.  The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 first established a permanent federal minimum wage in the United States.

"Instead of working to grow the economy and protect wages, Bradley has stood with the radical right in voting to eliminate New Hampshire's minimum wage law entirely," continued Kirstein.  "New Hampshire workers and their families deserve an answer - how little does Jeb Bradley believe their labor is ever worth? Does he even believe there should be a minimum wage at all?"

Sen. Bradley Applauds Unanimous Passage of Corporation Statute Improvements

The New Hampshire Senate

Majority Office

Bipartisan, pro-business bill provides much needed update to New Hampshire's Business Corporation Act.

Concord, NH – Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, prime sponsor of SB 41, applauded today’s unanimous Senate passage of legislation revising and updating the Business Corporation Act.  “New Hampshire’s corporate statutes have fallen behind the curve in terms of usability, business friendliness, and how they interact with modern day technologies.  This hampers the state’s ability to attract good, high-paying jobs,” said Bradley.  “SB 41 will reverse that trend and move the Granite State to the front of the pack nationally.”

“The BIA commends the New Hampshire Senate for passing SB 41 today, which would update the New Hampshire Corporations Act,” said Jim Roche, president of the Business and Industry Association, New Hampshire’s statewide chamber of commerce and leading business advocate. “In 2011, our team of business attorneys, accountants, corporate counsels, and others well-versed in corporate law examined and recommended revisions to the act, which was first passed in 1992. We appreciate Senator Bradley's leadership and the unanimous, bipartisan support of his Senate colleagues in bringing forth this legislation with those recommendations. We want to do everything possible to promote business development and expansion in New Hampshire. Having an up-to-date corporations act will encourage businesses to do exactly that.”

Senator Bradley concluded, “This legislation is the result of the dedicated and diligent work of some of the best business minds in New Hampshire who, in partnership with the Secretary of State, have taken nationally recognized model legislation and shaped it into a uniquely New Hampshire bill that will update our code and attract new businesses to the state.  I am proud to sponsor of this key, bipartisan, pro-business bill and look forward to its quick passage out of the House.”

Note: Attached please find a courtesy photo of Sen. Bradley speaking in support of SB41 on the floor of the Senate earlier today.

NHDP - Chair Ray Buckley's Statement on State Senator Jeb Bradley Blocking the Restoration of New Hampshire's Minimum Wage.

Concord, NH - New Hampshire Democratic Party Chair Ray Buckley issued the following statement in response to State Senator Jeb Bradley voting to block the restoration of New Hampshire's minimum wage.

"Yesterday, Senator Bradley continued his long history of voting against working New Hampshire families when he voted against the restoration of New Hampshire's minimum wage," said Buckley. "While sad, it is by no means surprising as Senator Bradley has a long history of voting against increases in the minimum wage at the federal, and now at the state level."

"While in Congress, then Representative Bradley saw his pay increase over $10,000 in a scant four years. Yet, when repeatedly presented with the opportunity to help working families earn a living wage, Representative Bradley voted against attempts to increase the federal minimum wage. I think it is pretty clear whose interests Jeb Bradley had in mind when he was in Congress."

"In 1949, led by Republican's in both the legislature and the Governor's office, New Hampshire established it's first minimum wage law. Two years ago, Jeb Bradley and Bill O'Brien decided that was a mistake, and voted to repeal the minimum wage here in this state, and yesterday he affirmed that vote," said Buckley. "Let me be absolutely clear on this. Senator Bradley does not believe the workers of New Hampshire are entitled to a minimum wage."

Senator Bradley Statement on Tabling of Minimum Wage Bill

The New Hampshire Senate

Majority Office

Today’s bipartisan vote reaffirms decision of last session

Concord, NH - Senate Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R- Wolfeboro, issued the following statement today following the Senate’s tabling of SB77:

“I am gratified the entire Senate stood for small businesses, job growth and opportunity by tabling an attempt to reinstate a New Hampshire minimum wage law.  Currently, 16 states have a higher minimum wage than the Granite State, and 14 of those 16 states have a higher unemployment rate than ours.  Moreover, raising the minimum wage costs jobs, especially for younger, lower-skilled workers.  In fact, 330,000 American teenagers lost jobs in the two months following the national minimum wage increase in 2009.  When Senate Republicans voted to repeal the New Hampshire specific minimum wage in 2011 we did so with job growth in mind.  Today’s bipartisan vote reaffirms the principle behind that decision.”

Senator Bragdon & Bradley Statement on Passage of SB153 Oversight of Collective Bargaining

The New Hampshire Senate

Majority Office

Good government and transparency requires legislative oversight of employee contracts.

Concord, NH - Senate President Peter Bragdon, R-Milford, and Majority Leader Jeb Bradley, R-Wolfeboro, issued the following statement today on the passage of SB 153, which requires Fiscal Committee approval of the cost items included in the state’s collective bargaining agreements:

“By ensuring legislative oversight of the cost items included in state employee contracts, this bill aligns the contract approval process at the state level with how it is done in cities and towns across New Hampshire.  Good government and transparency requires that the legislative branch, the branch responsible for writing and approving the state’s budget, have oversight of the agreements that govern the salaries and benefits of thousands of state employees.  This responsibility, and the impact it has on the state’s taxpayers, should not be left to a small group within the Executive Branch.  We are grateful for the State Employees Association’s support of this legislation and we look forward to a favorable response from the House ahead of upcoming contract negotiations.”