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EDITOR’S NOTE: Our friend and colleague Tracey has recently revamped her website covering South County and statewide news and politics. Visit her site HERE. With her permission, here is more detailed coverage of Hillary Clinton’s recent RI visit in support of Gina Raimondo for Governor.
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| Hillary Clinton at Rhode Island College with Gina Raimondo in October 2014. (Tracey C. O’Neill) |
Meeting up on the campaign trail at Rhode Island
College’s Recreation Center, Clinton and Raimondo set forth the current state
treasurer’s plan for Rhode Island, focused on investment in the future of the
state’s workforce, through training, education, an increase in the minimum wage
and equal pay for equal work.
Highlighting the plight of women in the workforce,
Raimondo, then Clinton noted the number of women in the workforce who are
receiving minimum wage.
“I’m going to raise the minimum wage to $10.10 an
hour,” said Raimondo. “Right now if you work in Rhode Island making the minimum
wage, you’re living on $16, 640 a year. That’s not enough and that’s not right.
And two-thirds of minimum wage earners are women.”
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| Rhode Island’s Senior Senator Jack Reed introduces Hillary Rodham Clinton and Gina Raimondo at RIC in October. |
“As Democrats, we believe in a simple principle of
fairness. If you work hard and play by the rules, you should have a fair shot
at achieving the American dream,” said Reed.
Reed called attention to Raimondo’s plan for the
future of Rhode Island, reinvigorating the economy and rebuilding the middle
class through “innovation, education and constructive collaboration.” Reed
acknowledged the state’s struggling economy, calling for voters to elect
Raimondo and adopt her plan for growth for Rhode Island.
Raimondo’s
plan – invest in growth
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| Gina Raimondo, Democratic gubernatorial candidate walks the rope line at RIC. (Photo Tracey C. O’Neill) |
“We are long past small changes and quick fixes,”
said Raimondo.
Raimondo’s Comprehensive
Jobs Plan and economic
recovery package include a “well-funded and flourishing public school system,
first-class infrastructure and an economic resurgence that includes everybody.”
Issues identified and solutions to progress the
state forward were:
- bringing educators and employers together to fix workforce training;
- rebuild infrastructure;
- development of an innovation institute;
- build on Rhode Island’s natural advantages;
- a raise in the minimum wage to $10.10; and
- equal pay for equal work.
Clinton called Raimondo’s vision “a 21st Century
plan that will work for everybody.”
Hillary Rodham Clinton also talked women – fair and
equal wages. Clinton, referring to the GOP add campaign, warned voters
that the purpose of negativity was to deter action.
Those negative ads are trying to do one of two
things,” said Clinton. “Either convince you not to vote for Gina or convince
you not to vote.”
Calling attention to Raimondo’s
experience creating jobs and making hard decisions. “She has the smarts to do
it,” said Clinton.
