Bob Dole: “If the Senator will yield, I guess it is the other way around. Your leader is telling us the only way we can move the…”

“If the Senator will yield, I guess it is the other way around. Your leader is telling us the only way we can move the Senate on anything is to vote on your version of the minimum wage. We have a majority in this body. We have some responsibility to advance legislation, and there is a lot of it on the calendar we would like to advance, including reconsideration of the constitutional amendment for a balanced budget and other matters that have a great impact. We have tried to work it out in discussion. Maybe I understand why it cannot be worked out. But it seems to me we have now suggested-- if we cannot do it today just with my first request, then I am prepared to make a second request that would deal both with the minimum wage and the TEAM Act and the gas tax repeal. The TEAM Act, we are advised by the committee that it is necessary because of the 1992 National Labor Relations Board decision. I do not see what is wrong with employers talking to employees, but the unions do not like it. The labor bosses do not want their people talking to anybody in management. So they have sent the word down we cannot have this, and if we have to filibuster this, we will filibuster this. The facts were pointed out by the Senator from Massachusetts--what difference does it make if we have it codified? So we are prepared to take it up right now and pass the bill.”