Albert Russell Wynn: “Despite my GOP friends' spin, I have to tell you the Democratic agenda is alive and well in America and American…”

“Despite my GOP friends' spin, I have to tell you the Democratic agenda is alive and well in America and American citizens are better for it, because it is the Democrats who have pushed for health care reform and for the minimum wage. On health care reform, the Kennedy-Kassebaum health insurance reform bill will be on the floor today, and we will be able to provide Americans with health insurance when they change jobs. We will be able to ensure that Americans will not be prohibited from getting health insurance because of preexisting conditions, such as the fact that your child may have asthma or someone has a longstanding hip injury who is an older member of your family. That is important and that was a Democratic initiative. We are also going to take up tomorrow the minimum wage. Republicans have said they would fight it with every fiber of their being. The fact is the Democrats stood for decent wages and decent working conditions. Forty percent of the people who earn the minimum wage are bread winners for their family. Fifty-eight percent of the people who earn the minimum wage are women. We need decent wages in America. Mr. Speaker, the Democratic agenda is alive and well.”