James Traficant: “I disagree with the Democrat leadership on their analysis of this bill. I support the rule. I will support the tax…”

“I disagree with the Democrat leadership on their analysis of this bill. I support the rule. I will support the tax break. I will support an amendment to increase the minimum wage $1 over a 24-month span, and I will vote for final passage when they are linked together. My district desperately needs an increase in the minimum wage. The sharpest politician to ever sit on Independence Avenue, with great political wisdom, owns two-thirds of the votes, and there are many political machinations that follow down the road on this bill. But a tax break for the boss who raises the wages of my workers is a decent trade-off for me. Am I totally crazy about their tax break? Not totally. There is a thing called a conference. But in the last 4 years, we have had two increases in the minimum wage that were under Republican Party leadership. The Republicans could have brought a bill out here today that did not have an opportunity for $1 over 2 years. They could have left it $1 over 3 years. They did that. I thank them for that. But I want to also say this, those who say that the Republican Party's tactics are simply mean spirited, trying to kill a minimum wage are not truthful. Their concerns over inflation causing a downward spiral that could hurt my workers is a valid concern that I share, just as they do. I believe our economy is strong enough that it can absorb both.”