Maurice Hinchey: “I am surprised that the leadership of this House would suggest that requesting an increase in the minimum wage for…”

“I am surprised that the leadership of this House would suggest that requesting an increase in the minimum wage for American workers is an unfunded mandate. If we follow that logic, adhere to it, then this body would not be able to do anything to protect the health and welfare of the American people. We just heard it said that the so-called balanced budget contains provisions that will be beneficial to the American workers, tax cuts. In fact the opposite is true. We are chopping away at the earned income tax credit. We are going to raise taxes for minimum wage people. That is what my colleagues are going to do. Mr. Speaker, the American people need an increase in their wages. They need an increase in wage. They have come to this Congress and asked for it. The last time this Congress authorized an increase in their salary was 1989. They are falling way behind. At the rate of this minimum wage, a person working full time makes only $8,500 a year. That is below the poverty level. The American people need an increase in their wage. They have asked for it. We have a responsibility to give it to them. Let us give them an increase.”