James Traficant: “I think it is time to tell it like it is. Democrats were in power for 48 years. They did not reform welfare, they did…”

“I think it is time to tell it like it is. Democrats were in power for 48 years. They did not reform welfare, they did nothing about prescription drugs, they did not reform the IRS. They would not even hold hearings on a Traficant bill that made a big difference, and I am proud of that. Look back at the minimum wage, I think the Republicans raised the minimum wage the last two times. I support the rule, I support the conference report, and I want to thank the Republican leadership for giving me the courtesy to sit down on the minimum wage issue, so important to America and to my district. There are parts of this bill I do not find all that great. But the President is absolutely an expert at reconciling differences. And no one better than the Speaker and the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Young) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Armey) and the gentleman from Texas (Mr. DeLay) and their staff, the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder), they have gone to them. And his statement is for the betterment of America. Let us find common ground.”