Harry Reid: “Finally, the majority leader raised the minimum wage issue. I believe we can do something on a bipartisan basis. The…”

“Finally, the majority leader raised the minimum wage issue. I believe we can do something on a bipartisan basis. The three Senators on the floor presently--two Democrats and one Republican--know that one of the tax incentives we have to give small business is a meals tax deduction. We cut that back significantly and it has hurt restaurant businesses all over America. For Mississippi, having a heavy resort industry, along with Atlantic City and Nevada, I think that is something we can do on a bipartisan basis. I hope we can get the minimum wage issue before us and have decent tax breaks that aren't budget busters and move forward on that. On the Patients' Bill of Rights, for example, sadly, the structure of the Senate has changed by one. We believe we are entitled to another vote, and that failed by one vote previously. That is an issue we can debate later in some other forum. We have talked enough today on H-1B and matters related thereto. I can say that I am comforted by the fact that we were able to get an early vote on the motion to suspend the rules. I hope that will satisfy everybody because it was an up-or-down vote on the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act. I hope we can set that matter aside and schedule an early vote on H-1B.”