Bob Filner: “there they go again. The majority is once again bringing up legislation that purports to help the average hard-working…”

“there they go again. The majority is once again bringing up legislation that purports to help the average hard-working, taxpaying American but in reality is just more relief for their well-to-do friends and business partners. The gentleman from Arizona (Mr. Hayworth) watches television. He is telling his friends that the price is right, yet he is putting all of America into jeopardy. We cannot continue to widen the gap between those who have and those who have less. Just like the majority's so-called marriage penalty relief, this tax cut/minimum wage increase does just that. It actually widens the income gap. Billions and billions in tax cut benefits for the majority's rich friends and one dollar to America's working people; one dollar to America's working people. All Americans should share in the prosperity of this booming economy, not just America's corporate CEOs. The Democratic substitute would allow those at the low end of the wage scale to share in this prosperity. I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to remember the priorities of the average American. Let us raise the minimum wage, save Social Security and Medicare, pay down the national debt and stop helping the wealthy under the pretense of helping the average hard-working American. Mr. Speaker, the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats but it is very clear that if this is approved the majority's proposal will leave an awful lot of smaller boats stuck in the muck of economic misery.”