Frank Pallone: “The Democrats can declare victory again today, once the minimum wage bill is brought up on the House floor, but I just…”

“The Democrats can declare victory again today, once the minimum wage bill is brought up on the House floor, but I just wanted to point out two things: First, to remind my colleagues that the Republicans fought against this minimum wage bill tooth and nail over the last 2 years; and, second, to point out that this affects real people. Too many times on the other side of the aisle, particularly last Monday when the House Republican leader, the gentleman from Texas, Dick Armey, once again blasted the minimum wage and said that it was not important to real people, it was somehow an inside-the-beltway issue. Well, that is simply not true. There are probably about 10 million Americans that are affected by a minimum wage increase, and they are people that have to go out every day and work to bring home the bread, to raise families, to pay for their mortgages, to pay for heat, to pay for their rent, whatever it happens to be. By delaying this minimum wage increase over 18 months, the Republican leadership has made it very difficult for those real people. I am pleased today that it is finally being brought up. It is a victory not only for the Democrats but it is a victory for the real people in this country who only earn a minimum wage.”