Political Quotes

“the radical Republicans are playing a cruel hoax on the American people. They refuse to raise the minimum wage by a lousy 90 cents and the bill before us would raise rent on the poorest and most vulnerable Americans, Americans who are only making minimum wage. Mr. Speaker, why can we bring a bill to this floor to raise public housing rents for the elderly, single mothers, and the working poor when the overwhelming majority of Americans, 78 percent, believe this Congress should consider a modest 90-cent increase in the minimum wage, but my colleagues on the other side of the aisle say, ``No way.'' This rule on this bill shows clearly this Congress' contorted priorities. We could give 11 million Americans a tiny raise. Six out of 10 workers earning the minimum wage are women, many of whom are single parents. Seventy-two percent of these women are adults 20 years old or over. So much for Mother's Day. So much for family values, my Republican friends. They have just gone too far, Mr. Speaker. We cannot justify this attack on poor and working families. Let us oppose the previous question and craft a rule that will bring a minimum wage increase to this floor. If the Republicans want to raise the rents on seniors tomorrow, let them try. But let us give 11 million Americans a raise today.”