Donald M. Payne: “I rise in support of an increase in the minimum wage so that we can give American workers a decent living wage. Mr.…”

“I rise in support of an increase in the minimum wage so that we can give American workers a decent living wage. Mr. Speaker, as a member of the House Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, I rise in strong support of an increase in the minimum wage. I had the privilege of serving on the conference committee for the last minimum wage proposal, which was signed into law in 1989, under a Democratic-controlled Congress. It was the right thing to do then, and it is the right thing to do now--in this positive cycle of our economy. Under President Clinton's leadership, we have developed very strong economic indicators. The deficit is down, new jobs have been created, and inflation is under control. The working people of this country deserve to enjoy the benefits of the economic good news. Let me share with my colleagues our experience in my home State of New Jersey. I am proud that we have led the Nation in giving workers a livable wage. Despite the predictions of gloom and doom in some quarters, economists at Princeton University surveyed businesses in New Jersey and Pennsylvania in the spring of 1992, after New Jersey raised the minimum wage from $4.25 to $5.05. The results indicated that businesses in New Jersey actually added employees while in Pennsylvania, hiring remained stagnant.”