State of West Virginia Archives: on Jobs


Stephen Noble Smith: Pass strongest pro-labor laws in the country

Eliminate so-called "Right-to-Work." Restore the Prevailing Wage. Institute collective bargaining for public employees. Ensure that teachers, school service personnel, and all government employees have the right to organize. Ensure that all public employee unions have office space and paid time to conduct union duties. Pass the strongest laws in the country related to protecting the right to organize, and strike. Raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour for all employees.

Pay for workers compensation insurance for volunteer first-responders. Provide a $1000/year stipend for all volunteer firefighters and EMS workers who reach a threshold level of service each year. Make sure that first responders are represented at every level of government. We need first responders helping to drive policy as it relates to the opioid epidemic, roads, cell towers, and more.

Source: 2020 W.V. Gubernatorial campaign website WVCantWait.com.com Jan 24, 2020

Woody Thrasher: Will work to pass "right-to-work" legislation

The reasons I'm running are simple. We need real leadership to bring jobs and we need to follow President Trump's lead to improve our economy and fight government corruption.

The good work of our strong, conservative, Republican Legislature to move our state forward, like bringing us right-to-work, must continue. I'm a pro-life conservative who believes in the Second Amendment. West Virginia's values will always be protected by me.

Source: 2020 W.V. Governor campaign website WoodyThrasher2020.com Dec 13, 2019

Evan Jenkins: Raise the state minimum wage & federal minimum wage

While my chief focus in the legislature has been on growing the economy to create good-paying jobs for West Virginians, I've also voted for legislation that had the support of business and labor to raise the state minimum wage when appropriate. At the federal level, I believe both parties in Congress should work together to increase the minimum wage to a fair level that boosts the paychecks of hard-working Americans while also protecting their jobs and the economy.
Source: 2014 W.V. House campaign website, EvanJenkins.com Nov 4, 2014

John Buckley: No affirmative action; hire based on merit alone

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Legally require hiring women & minorities"?

A: Oppose. I do not favor any hiring or employment practices other then recognizing a person's abilities based on merit alone.

Source: Email interview on 2014 W.V. Senate race with OnTheIssues Sep 5, 2014

Earl Ray Tomblin: $20M for Unemployment Compensation Fund

Unemployment compensation programs around the country have been in a financial crisis. To make sure that we do not have to [take extreme measures] in the future, I am proposing legislation that would allow the Unemployment Compensation Fund to borrow up to $20 million from our Rainy Day Funds. This will assure employers that they will not be subject to tax increases and let employees know that the State is serious about making sure that their benefits will be there while our economy recovers.
Source: 2011 W.V. State of the State Address Jan 12, 2011

John Raese: Abolish the minimum wage

Raese's statement about abolishing the minimum wage would not help West Virginia--a state whose natural resources have been plundered by outside interests and its residents taken advantage of.
Source: Daily Athenaeum coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

John Raese: My forte is creating jobs

Manchin mostly emphasized to voters that, in Washington, he would not be tightly joined with either party.

Raese, the millionaire heir to a powerful company in the state, repeatedly cited his business acumen, promising to "bring the spirit of capitalism to the United States Senate."

"My forte is creating jobs," he said.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2010 W.V. Senate debate Oct 18, 2010

  • The above quotations are from State of West Virginia Politicians: Archives.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Jobs.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
2020 Presidential contenders on Jobs:
  Democrats running for President:
Sen.Michael Bennet (D-CO)
V.P.Joe Biden (D-DE)
Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I-NYC)
Gov.Steve Bullock (D-MT)
Mayor Pete Buttigieg (D-IN)
Sen.Cory Booker (D-NJ)
Secy.Julian Castro (D-TX)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Rep.John Delaney (D-MD)
Rep.Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)
Sen.Amy Klobuchar (D-MN)
Gov.Deval Patrick (D-MA)
Sen.Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
CEO Tom Steyer (D-CA)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren (D-MA)
Marianne Williamson (D-CA)
CEO Andrew Yang (D-NY)

2020 Third Party Candidates:
Rep.Justin Amash (L-MI)
CEO Don Blankenship (C-WV)
Gov.Lincoln Chafee (L-RI)
Howie Hawkins (G-NY)
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Howard Schultz(I-WA)
Gov.Jesse Ventura (I-MN) 		Republicans running for President:
Sen.Ted Cruz(R-TX)
Gov.Larry Hogan (R-MD)
Gov.John Kasich(R-OH)
V.P.Mike Pence(R-IN)
Gov.Mark Sanford (R-SC)
Pres.Donald Trump(R-NY)
Rep.Joe Walsh (R-IL)
Gov.Bill Weld(R-MA & L-NY)

2020 Withdrawn Democratic Candidates:
Sen.Stacey Abrams (D-GA)
Mayor Bill de Blasio (D-NYC)
Sen.Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Sen.Mike Gravel (D-AK)
Sen.Kamala Harris (D-CA)
Gov.John Hickenlooper (D-CO)
Gov.Jay Inslee (D-WA)
Mayor Wayne Messam (D-FL)
Rep.Seth Moulton (D-MA)
Rep.Beto O`Rourke (D-TX)
Rep.Tim Ryan (D-CA)
Adm.Joe Sestak (D-PA)
Rep.Eric Swalwell (D-CA)
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Page last updated: Oct 14, 2021