Subject: Re: Letter
From: Dan Schwerin <[email-masked]>
To: Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]>
Cc: John Podesta <[email-masked]>, leslie dach <[email-masked]>, Huma Abedin <[email-masked]>, "<[email-masked]>" <[email-masked]>, "<[email-masked]>" <[email-masked]>
Date: Sat, 3 May 2014 00:11:17 -0700

Hi all, 
I will send some suggestions for edits to the text below, but wanted you to know that she's regularly been mentioning her support for raising the minimum wage in recent speeches and tweets, generally in context of women's agenda, and it's gotten some press attention.

Also, HRC wants to be sure we are smart about handling Nader as well this particular issue. Do we think that sending a response that doesn't mention Walmart will help or hurt in this regard?

> On May 2, 2014, at 4:01 AM, Cheryl Mills <[email-masked]> wrote:
> 
> On a plane for 6 hours - will revert when I land 
> 
> cdm
> 
>> On May 2, 2014, at 5:23 AM, John Podesta <[email-masked]> wrote:
>> 
>> Just catching up on this train. I think strengthening the basic min wage section along Leslie's lines is fine, but I wouldn't give up the other women's economic issues or frame. They are the right thing to do and very politically powerful.
>> 
>> JP
>> --Sent from my iPad--
>> [email-masked]
>> For scheduling: [email-masked]
>> 
>>> On May 1, 2014, at 10:39 PM, leslie dach <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> I wonder if it should be lifted out of the womens economic empowerment context and go straight at as the right thing to do, and good for our economy, with more of an emphasis on families and how the wage has not changed for so long and has not kept up with need.   Is there more to say about her history of advocacy during the 2007 debate.
>>>  
>>> From: Huma Abedin [mailto:[email-masked]] 
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 9:57 PM
>>> To: [email-masked]'; [email-masked]'
>>> Cc: [email-masked]'; [email-masked]'; [email-masked]'; [email-masked]'
>>> Subject: Re: Letter
>>>  
>>> Adding dan and jake as well. 
>>> 
>>> Below is a draft response to Nader for review. Whether its a letter or some sort of message at a speech or event, want to get thoughts on what her message is. 
>>> 
>>> Dear Ralph Nader, Pete Davis, Al Norman, Adolph Reed,….
>>> 
>>> Thank you for your letter. I am indeed proud of my advocacy on behalf of women and women's economic empowerment over several decades. I know that in today's economy, women are disproportionately bearing the burden of tough economic times. Women are disproportionately poor and tens of millions of women are financially insecure - just one paycheck away from poverty. 
>>> 
>>> It is in part because of my support for economic advancement of all women that I am a strong, and longstanding supporter of increasing the minimum wage, not just for some companies, but for all US companies. Currently 60% of all minimum wage workers are women, and many of them are moms. Raising the minimum wage to $10.10 should not be an issue subject to political polarization. It makes economic sense because those people who get a raise will spend it buying goods and services, fueling economic activity in their local communities. It also makes budgetary sense because it will reduce expenditures by the government. The Center for American Progress recently released a study that found an increase of the minimum wage to $10.10 an hour will reduce SNAP expenditures - popularly referred to as food stamps - by $4.6 billion a year. That means that companies that pay below the minimum wage are in essence relying on government subsidies to ensure their workers do not go hungry. I hope that those that rail against government spending would support this increase in the minim wage that will reduce such spending. But I also believe raising the minimum wage is the moral thing to do as well because I simply believe that in America, if you work a job full-time, you shouldn't live in poverty. I believe that should be a basic bargain for all Americans.
>>> 
>>> However, I know wages aren't the only issue for women at the bottom of the economic ladder. Women suffer disproportionately from a lack of flexibility policies in American companies. Seventy percent of low-income women do not have access to a single paid sick day and the United States is the only developed d nation that does not require paid maternity leave. As a country, we need to do far better helping all parents balance their responsibilities at home and at work. Too often parents, especially low-income workers, have to choose and that is not good for our companies or our families. 
>>> 
>>> These are policies that I am happy to discuss because they are the issues I have fought for over the course of my career. I am proud of my work to underscore the importance of a minimum wage increase for women the last time the federal government increased the minimum wage in 1996. And I continued that advocacy as a Senator from New York. I know these issues are central to both our economic growth as a nation and to the American promise of shared prosperity we all hold so dear.
>>> 
>>> Sincerely,
>>> 
>>> 
>>> 
>>>  
>>> From: Cheryl Mills [mailto:[email-masked]] 
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 07:30 PM Eastern Standard Time
>>> To: Leslie` Dach <[email-masked]> 
>>> Cc: Huma Abedin; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]> 
>>> Subject: Re: Letter 
>>>  
>>> if we want to get on the record more generally re her engagement on the minimum wage which goes back decades and use this moment as an opportunity - what would be your strategy if you think no to a letter?
>>>  
>>> cdm
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 6:18 PM, Leslie` Dach <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> I think this particular letter can be ignored unless it comes back in a meaningful way. His  ongoing attacks on HRC delegitimize his voice, and it's already pretty marginalized.  If you eventually need to answer u could simply say that your position on raising the minimum wage is clear to all businesses. You don't want to be tied or held responsible for any specific business, walmart for sure included. 
>>> 
>>> On May 1, 2014, at 5:32 PM, "Huma Abedin" <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> 
>>> Perhaps we don't need to formally respond to Nader. Apparently there has been no pick up on social media and no follow-up on the Chozick story. We could find a place in the near future where hrc could talk about her position and her support. 
>>> Plus none of these other names sounds familiar so basically any random person could post an open letter and expect a formal response. 
>>> What do you think?
>>>  
>>> From: Cheryl Mills [mailto:[email-masked]] 
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 05:26 PM Eastern Standard Time
>>> To: Huma Abedin 
>>> Cc: [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]> 
>>> Subject: Re: Letter 
>>>  
>>> we should also figure out if answer is a letter or if there is a different strategy so we don't get copy cat issue people posting letters and then saying they sent a letter to her with their issue as a test of her commitment to it
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 3:18 PM, Huma Abedin <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> Thanks Cheryl. 
>>> Hi leslie, we will circulate letter as soon as we have something and appreciate all comments/feedback. 
>>> Best,
>>> Huma
>>>  
>>> From: Cheryl Mills [mailto:[email-masked]]
>>> Sent: Thursday, May 01, 2014 02:37 PM Eastern Standard Time
>>> To: Huma Abedin 
>>> Cc: [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; [email-masked] <[email-masked]>; leslie dach <[email-masked]> 
>>> Subject: Re: Letter 
>>>  
>>> Huma
>>>  
>>> Adding Leslie to whom I just spoke who is happy to be helpful both in content and strategy.
>>>  
>>> He noted that Walmart is not opposed to the minimum wage law - which we can discuss when we are all on a call after reviewing the draft response.
>>>  
>>> best.
>>>  
>>> cdm
>>>  
>>> 
>>> On Thu, May 1, 2014 at 2:32 PM, Huma Abedin <[email-masked]> wrote:
>>> Here is actual letter we are responding to:
>>> April 22, 2014
>>> 
>>> Dear Hillary Clinton,
>>> 
>>>  As First Lady, Senator, Secretary of State, and in your recent work
>>> with the Clinton Global Initiative, you have advocated for the cause
>>> of women’s empowerment around the world.  Today we write to ask you to
>>> also join us in an important women’s empowerment initiative here at
>>> home.  It involves an area to which you have a special connection and
>>> thus presents you, specifically, with an important responsibility to
>>> make a direct difference in the lives of hundreds of thousands of
>>> American women and an indirect difference in millions more.
>>> 
>>>  The Walmart Corporation is the largest employer in the United States,
>>> employing about one in every hundred Americans. Unfortunately,
>>> America’s largest employer sets a horrible example with its miserly
>>> wage policy. Walmart pays hundreds of thousands of their workers less
>>> per hour, adjusted for inflation, than minimum wage workers made 46
>>> years ago. With rising housing, health and transportation costs,
>>> Walmart workers cannot make ends meet on less than $10,