Political Quotes

“Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition to the King amendment. What is interesting to me is that the net effect of the King amendment would be to drive wages down, another Republican amendment to not really show any respect for the workers of this country. Are they all going to work for poverty wages? Millions of our citizens still remain out of work, the middle class is shrinking, and here we have a Member that stands up and he wants to have lower wages. The public wants Congress to create middle class jobs and to pay people what they are worth. The interesting thing about this amendment is that, when you look back at all the studies that have been done, for instance, when President Bush suspended Davis-Bacon wages during the Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts, construction costs went up due to the dramatic increase in the employment of unqualified workers. I would like to say to the gentleman--and I know you are a handyman because you have told me you are--that the people who work on these projects are ironworkers. I defy anybody in this place to do that. I think Stephen Lynch did that work. Congressman Lynch is about the only one that survived that. Boilermakers, carpenters, operating engineers, electricians, laborers, sheet metal workers, cement masons, roofers, painters, these people go up on those high bridges and they risk their lives. They need training. And do you know what?…”