Cleo Fields: “The gentleman from Arkansas made some reference to productivity gains, and there have, indeed, been productivity gains…”

“The gentleman from Arkansas made some reference to productivity gains, and there have, indeed, been productivity gains experienced by our economy, except that in the past those productivity gains accrued to the community at large. Now those productivity gains are not accruing to the community, perhaps to stockholders and CEO's, but certainly not to the low-wage workers. And that is one argument in favor of protecting the interests of our low-wage workers. I think we have also seen that the gentleman from Arkansas shares the opinion of his colleagues in the Republican leadership that he also fights the increase in the minimum wage or the concept of the minimum wage with every fiber in his being as well.”