Received this e-mail today from former Rep. Tom Perriello’s (D. VA) gubernatorial campaign:
Friend,
I decided to run for governor because it has gotten too hard for Virginians to get ahead today. I wanted us to do more for the student who needs access to higher education without crushing debt, for the workers losing their bargaining power in the workplace, and for everyone who needs a living wage to get by and affordable child care so they can afford to work.
This weekend I laid out our plan to help working families -- a bold and comprehensive set of proposals that will guarantee every Virginian has a fair shot at success.
With Trump in the White House, it is more important than ever to have leaders in the states who will lead with bold, progressive agendas for working families. Will you add your name as a supporter of this plan?
Fighting for a Living Wage. No matter where I travel in the state, the message is clear: no family in Virginia can build a secure future for their families or themselves when the minimum wage pays only $14,000 a year -- as low as any in the country. It’s why I am leading the fight in this race to raise the wage to $15 an hour. Our workers deserve not just the security of a living wage, but the dignity that comes with it. That’s a fight I will never back down from.
Ending the Gender Pay Gap. Our plans to raise the wage will be useless if we do not close the gap between what a woman is paid in comparison to her male counterpart. African-American women make 60 cents to every dollar a man makes. Latinas are paid 53 cents to every dollar a man makes. This is the equivalent of working for free for half the year. I will use my powers as governor to demand equal pay and push for legislation that brings transparency to workplace pay and salary levels, so women can see when the deck is stacked against them. I will also push for legislation to give women greater legal tools to demand an equal wage.
Improving Labor Protections for Workers. Too often, workers in Virginia don’t get the protections they need to earn their rightful pay and maintain consistent hours. Wage theft, the denial of benefits, and reduced bargaining powers are all side effects of a long, sustained attack on workers’ rights in Virginia.
Ensuring Family Leave and Guaranteed Medical Leave. As governor, I will push to guarantee workers up to eight weeks of leave at two-thirds of their pay so they can care for a new child or an ill family member. This would also provide guaranteed medical leave so that workers can take the time they need to get healthy and back on the job. No one should have to choose between taking care of their family and their job.
Helping Virginians Afford Childcare. Center-based childcare usually averages more than $1000 a month, as two-thirds of Virginia children under age 6 have both parents in the workforce. As governor, I will push for tax credits to offset the high costs of childcare and provide direct relief to working families.
Fully Funding Universal Pre-K. Lack of early childhood education disproportionately hurts communities of color, and students who start school behind their classmates are likely to fall further behind over the course of their educations. Implementing high-quality pre-K could eliminate as much as 20 percent of the achievement gap.
Reducing or Eliminating Student Debt by Providing Access to Higher Education. Offering two years of free community college, vocational training, or funded apprenticeships is a no-brainer. It is a pro-growth investment in people to make sure every worker can get the training he or she needs at any point in their career. For those students seeking a four-year degree, as governor, I will push to re-establish the Virginia Educational Loan Authority, which will give students the option of receiving guaranteed loans and inject competition with high interest private lenders. This loan authority will also be able to refinance existing student loans, so that like a home refinancing, students can reduce their monthly debt payments.
Add your name as a supporter of our plan for working families here. We can make progress for all families, not just those at the top, if a large number of us stand together in this moment.
The problems our families are facing is what motivates me to get up every morning, and what I think about when I go sleep. And I promise that will never change.
Thank you,
Tom