Mike Levin: “I say to the gentleman from Colorado, we are going to pass the rule, we are going to pass the bill. It reduces spending…”

“I say to the gentleman from Colorado, we are going to pass the rule, we are going to pass the bill. It reduces spending, but in a way that does not hurt children and their education, does not hurt the environment, does not hurt citizens who want security in their neighborhoods, because it does not adopt the cuts that you voted for. We want to expand this and have a vote on the minimum wage. We will make an agreement. If the Speaker says we will have a vote, we will not oppose the previous question. But if he says we will not have one, do not say go through committee. I want to read something from November 8, 1989. This is a statement by Mr. Dole on the floor: 'We had a White House meeting this morning, and the President asked about minimum wage and the progress it was making. I said we hoped to have it passed as early as noon or 1:00.' That was Mr. Dole in 1989. In 1996, Mr. Dole has an option: either continue to cater to the radical right of the Republican Party or do what was done in 1989. The minimum wage today is back where it was in 1989. We need to move ahead. You are standing there trying to divert attention. We are going to vote for the rule and the bill, but we should also bring up the minimum wage. It is of importance to the working families of this country.”