Editor’s note: The following is a press release from the New Hampshire Democratic Party. Gov. Sununu has not responded to a request for comment, but this will be updated when he does.
Elliot Gault, NHGOP Executive Director, emailed a response: “With over 15,000 high paying jobs available and one of the highest median incomes in the country, New Hampshire’s economy is booming under Governor Chris Sununu. Increasing the minimum wage would stifle our economy and cause massive layoffs. Governor Sununu is right to oppose this jobs-killing policy.”
New Petition: “Tell Chris Sununu to Give Granite Staters a Raise”
Concord, N.H. – Today, New Hampshire Democrats launched a new petition urging Sununu to give back his pay raise and give Granite Staters one instead – by signing the minimum wage bill into law.
Since taking office Chris Sununu has given himself a $22,000 pay raise and plans on getting another $13,000 raise on top of it this year – all at taxpayers’ expense.
At the same time, Sununu has already made clear that he opposes giving Granite State families a raise and has said flat out that New Hampshire shouldn’t have a minimum wage at all. The New Hampshire House and Senate have both approved legislation that would establish a minimum wage in the state and gradually raise the minimum wage for Granite Staters above the outdated and inadequate $7.25 an hour.
“Chris Sununu has already made clear that he opposes giving Granite State families a raise, after giving himself a massive pay raise at taxpayers’ expense,” said Ray Buckley, chair of the New Hampshire Democratic Party. “Chris Sununu has proven time and time again that he’s abusing his position for his own profit at Granite Staters’ expense.”
You can read the petition at https://www.change.org/p/tell-chris-sununu-to-give-back-his-raise-and-give-granite-staters-one-instead.
Raising the minimum wage is a commonsense policy that will help Granite Staters. In fact, more than 100,000 workers in New Hampshire would directly benefit from a $12 minimum wage. And the $7.25 wage hasn’t seen an increase in more than 10 years, even as the cost of living has increased 18 percent.
“It’s time for Sununu to give back his pay raise and give Granite Staters one instead,” said Buckley.