Greg Ganske: “we are going to get our first vote on raising the minimum wage today. I am going to vote for it. I have been concerned…”

“we are going to get our first vote on raising the minimum wage today. I am going to vote for it. I have been concerned that legislation with good motives can have adverse consequences, so I urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for the Goodling amendment. It takes into consideration some specific things that we ought to look at. Computer experts should not be paid 6.5 times more and then get a raise in their minimum wage. Restaurant workers do get tips. It takes into account that. But I and other people have been concerned about the loss of jobs for low-skilled workers, so, at my suggestion and others', the leadership has included in the Goodling amendment an opportunity wage. The opportunity wage will encourage hiring of low-skilled entry-level workers by firms while maintaining the protections of the current minimum wage for a short period of time. This amendment is geared to blunt the impact of projected increases on low-skilled workers. The Goodling amendment is a good one. I urge my colleagues to vote for it.”