Charles Rangel: “let me join in congratulating the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules. His honesty in terms of opposing the…”

“let me join in congratulating the distinguished chairman of the Committee on Rules. His honesty in terms of opposing the minimum wage for the lowest working employees is really to be commended for coming forward and saying it, because like Governor Bush, I wondered about the meanness on this side of the aisle; and it is good to see that people are willing to say that there is a reason behind it. Mr. Speaker, one can be reforming and want results if one is going to cave in to the things that one believes in, and I would like to join with my Senator who makes it abundantly clear that the country is really not looking for tax cuts, but looking for us to do the right thing, protecting Social Security, Medicare, the Patients' Bill of Rights, affordable drugs. These are the things that the Congress, not Republicans and not Democrats, but working together, should be doing. There is very, very little compassion for the working people at a time that our country is doing so great. I oppose the rule because my colleagues do not even give us an opportunity to have an alternative.”