Which Candidate Supports Working Americans?
McCain and Obama on Economy, Tax Cuts, and Workers' Rights
Oct 2, 2008
The presidential race is heated as Americans consider a variety of issues that affect their daily lives. It’s hard to think about global warming and gun control when jobs are scarce and more and more people struggle to put food on the table. Your vote this election could decide how many more jobs are shipped overseas, how much paid leave is required by law, or whether or not you can sue your employer for wage discrimination.
Here’s where the candidates stand on issues that affect American workers.
Unions: Employee Free Choice Act (Allowing workers to choose their union, as opposed to businesses mandating availability):
- Sens. Barack Obama and Joe Biden co-sponsored the bill.
- Sen. John McCain chose to block the bill by filibuster, and also voted in support of a bill eliminating organization of unions altogether.
Fair Wages: Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (Making lawsuits for payment discrimination easier):
- Obama voted in favor of the bill and cosponsored legislation requiring employers to disclose pay scales, making discrimination easier to detect.
- McCain opposed the act, citing too much potential for frivolous lawsuits.
Health Insurance:
- Obama intends to require company-sponsored insurance from large companies, providing government-run health care for the remainder of Americans on a sliding-scale basis. He also indicated changing regulations so more businesses are required by law to provide insurance.
- McCain will provide tax credit to citizens to offset private health-care costs, regardless of employment status.
Outsourcing Overseas:
- Obama favors eliminating tax breaks for overseas companies, transferring them to companies that keep production in the United States.
- McCain voted for tax breaks for American companies that ship jobs overseas.
Fair Wages:
- Obama voted to increase minimum wage and against a state's right to appeal (letting individual states choose their own minimum wage). Opposed disqualifying workers from overtime pay.
- McCain voted to increase minimum wage under the condition that tax breaks be provided to affected businesses. Voted against protection for workers’ overtime rights.
Family and Medical Leave (Mandating eligible employees unpaid leave for health or family reasons of up to 12 weeks):
- Obama voted to extend the act to include smaller businesses, proposed $1.5 billion in start-up costs on paid leave programs. Supports possibility of mandatory paid maternity leave, on par with other industrialized countries.
- McCain voted in favor of the 1993 Family and Medical Leave Act.
Economy/Bailout:
- The Obama campaign blames a stagnant economy on low wages that don’t match the rising cost of living, as well as continued tax cuts for the wealthy. Raising minimum wage and providing tax cuts to the middle-class will help to stimulate the economy. As of 10/2/08 he is in favor of a $50 billion relief plan to prevent job loss and help stimulate new jobs. Regarding a government bailout, Obama has said, "One step we could take to potentially broaden support for the legislation and shore up our economy would be to expand federal deposit insurance for families and small businesses across America who have invested their money in our banks.”
- John McCain supports tax cuts for large corporations and the wealthiest Americans. He is quoted on 12/18/07 as saying, “The issue of economics is something that I’ve really never understood as well as I should.” He votes in favor of corporate bailouts to strengthen the economy and maintain American jobs.
Bottom Line:
Obama supports fair and living wages and makes supporting working families one of his platform issues. He believes in giving employees more say via unions and legal action. He supports a better work-life balance, even proposing time off for workers to attend a child’s school needs (such as parent-teacher conferences). Additionally, Obama recognizes that employee retention makes for stronger businesses, cutting costs overall for both business and government. His record in the senate confirms his passion for the American Worker.
John McCain supports business, giving tax breaks especially to small businesses. His votes in favor of minimum wage hikes over the past few years only came with an amendment that businesses receive tax breaks, making it more feasible for business-owners. He is strongly opposed to government-sponsored healthcare, stating that a free market will drive down costs and give Americans more say in their care. As a result, his healthcare plan does not include a proposal that businesses are required to provide insurance for employees.
