On the recordMay 1, 1996
I stand here today requesting the Republican leadership, Newt Gingrich, to schedule the minimum wage bill for the House to vote on. I am not here on behalf of any union, I am here on behalf of a lot of people in my district and all over this Nation that work every day at $4.25 an hour. What do I ask for them? I ask we raise that minimum wage in a 2-year cycle for 90 cents. That means $1,800 a year more for those people. Now, their answer, the Republicans' answer, is no, we are going to cut the gas tax 4.5 cents. We will repeal the part of the gas tax that was in the 1993 deficit reduction package. Well, how much will that give to my people? To most of my people that is $45 year. They want to give $45 a year to help my people get through the hard times, buy a pair of shoes for the kids. I say let us give them the minimum wage. Let us give them really something that will benefit them. $1,800 a year is a lot better than $45 a year.
Source
govinfo.gov
