Victor Fazio: “I know that the hour is late, and I do not oppose this bill. My point in speaking at this late hour is simple. Earlier…”

“I know that the hour is late, and I do not oppose this bill. My point in speaking at this late hour is simple. Earlier today when the gentleman from Michigan [Mr. Bonior] made a motion which would address the issue of a minimum wage for the American worker, the majority decided to invoke a rule that would strike that motion on the premise that it somehow was an unfunded mandate. CBO has now ruled of course that that motion did not constitute an unfunded mandate. But in this bill, there is an unfunded mandate, and of course the rule waives that. Now, that is not the first time. I am sure the majority will use its power whenever it so wishes to deem something an unfunded mandate and then ignore another unfunded mandate and present the Members with a fait accompli. This was also typical of the three-fifths rule on tax increases. I cannot remember how many times we have waived that rule which we so proudly adopted on the opening day of this session. My reason for speaking is not to the substance of this bill but a constant attention to the majority's propensity to constitute whatever rules it wishes in violation of whatever standards it has adopted, even in this Congress where it took so much credit for changing the way we do our business here.”