Watson Coleman: “I want to speak about unfounded concerns raised about the minimum wage increase proposal of the Estate Tax and Extension…”

“I want to speak about unfounded concerns raised about the minimum wage increase proposal of the Estate Tax and Extension of Tax Relief Act of 2006. I have long supported an increase in the minimum wage in order to help raise the living standards of America's hard-working families. I voted for Senator Kennedy's amendment on a number of occasions. I voted for a minimum wage increase with or without a tip credit. It has been 9 years since we last increased the minimum wage. Many States--mine included--have raised their minimum wage higher than the Federal level. The tax bill we will take up tomorrow increases the minimum wage. The bill would also provide for a tip credit in those States--again, like my own--that don't currently allow for a tip credit. Again, I have supported a minimum wage increase with and without a tip credit. We have an opportunity to increase the minimum wage, and there is a tip credit provision in there. I find it regrettable that some of my Democratic colleagues are now arguing that the tip credit provision would actually lead to a reduction in the minimum wage for those workers in nontip credit States. It is interesting that these colleagues of mine make this argument at a time when we are close to providing an increase in the minimum wage. Not once have these colleagues of mine made such claims when the Senate considered this very same proposal on several occasions in the recent past.…”