Wage vote stirs 2nd District race

Hays pushes opponent Hill to explain stand on measure

Democratic congressional candidate Patrick Henry Hays said Wednesday that he's confused about Republican opponent French Hill's position on a state ballot measure that would increase the state's minimum wage.

The initiative, which would gradually raise the minimum wage by $2.25 an hour to $8.50 by 2017, is backed by Democratic candidates and several Republicans seeking the state's' top offices, including the party's nominee for governor.

Hays said he also supports raising the federal minimum wage of $7.25 an hour because "people ought to have a livable wage and what that magic number is I am not exactly sure."

After Republican gubernatorial nominee Asa Hutchinson of Rogers, U.S. Senate nominee Tom Cotton of Dardenelle, and U.S. Reps. Tim Griffin of Little Rock and Rick Crawford of Jonesboro said they're going to vote for the ballot measure raising the minimum wage, Hill's campaign manager, Jack Sisson, said Friday that "French Hill will vote for the Arkansas minimum wage increase if he can ensure it doesn't negatively impact Arkansas jobs."

Sisson declined Wednesday to specify how Hill plans to vote and instead focused on Hays. The Democrat "likes to talk about workers' pay while campaigning, but as a 26-year career politician, Hays was most interested in raising taxes to increase his personal pay -- 22 times," Sisson said.

In June, Hill told reporters that he opposes "increasing the minimum wage because I don't want to see any barriers to creating early employment and creating more jobs." His remarks came shortly after Hays endorsed the proposed ballot measure.

Hays is a former North Little Rock mayor. Hill is a Little Rock banker.

Along with Libertarian nominee Debbie Standiford of North Little Rock, Hays and Hill are jockeying in the Nov. 4 general election to be Arkansas' 2nd District congressman.

Before a brief discussion about creating jobs and raising wages among Hays and five people at the Whole Hog Cafe in North Little Rock, Hays told reporters that "we are all a little confused about what our opponent's position is."

As for possible job losses from the ballot measure, Hays said that "most all the studies show that there is no job loss with increasing the minimum wage."

On Wednesday, Hays also defended his use of Blue Bell Creameries' and Caterpillar's logos in his latest TV ad, after a Blue Bell official said he's complained about the ad.

Hays said he called Blue Bell to see if his campaign could go into Blue Bell's distribution warehouse to film a campaign ad, and he doesn't recall whether his campaign got a response. He said his campaign decided to film the ad without "using their facility." When he was mayor, Hays said, city officials played a role in attracting the company to North Little Rock.

Hays said Caterpillar "didn't want us to go inside [filming a campaign ad] and so we didn't."

North Little Rock had a key role in helping with an incentive package that lured the company to North Little Rock, he added. He said he doesn't think he did anything wrong with using Blue Bell and Caterpillar in the ad.

Sisson said that "Patrick Henry Hays asked for permission to mention the names of local businesses in his TV ad and was specifically told 'no.' Hays selfishly ignored their request."

Doug Hutchins, branch manager for Blue Bell in North Little Rock, said Hays asked to use the company in his campaign ad several weeks ago and "we decided to say no," because company officials didn't want to imply an endorsement. He said he was surprised to see the company's logo used in the ad.

Caterpillar's Peoria, Ill.-based spokesman, Rachel Potts, declined to comment about the company's discussions with Hays' and Hill's campaigns about the campaign ad. Caterpillar's PAC has contributed $10,000 to Hill's campaign, according to the Federal Election Commission's website.

Metro on 09/13/2014

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