"I want to thank you for your first hearing being on what is the most important issue today, which is whether or not we are going to have a middle class in this country."
"the average child care costs for families today equal somebody working 40 hours a week for a year at minimum wage."
"I know an awful lot of folks who are trying to piece together two or three part-time jobs, and they are actually working a whole lot more, just not getting ahead very well."
"I do not see people--unfortunately, Dr. Lindsey, when you say people are choosing not to be self-reliant, that surely does not speak to anybody whom I know in Michigan."
"when we have a minimum wage right now that allows people to work 40 hours a week and still be in poverty, there is something wrong with that, I think."
"Americans work really hard, and a lot of them are still struggling to get by."
"we are never going to get out of debt with 10.5 million people out of work."
"I think when we look at extending unemployment benefits so folks have a roof over their head and food on the table and can go back and get the job training they need so that they can lift themselves u..."
"I am very proud of the fact that the bill originated in the Senate, not once but twice."
"I know from Senator Baucus that the Big Sky State's economy was something that was always on his mind."
"We need more, but certainly in the last few years, and that is a good thing."
"So that is a pretty big drop. A pretty big drop."