Political Quotes

“let me say what is sad and shameful here tonight is the argument being made by so-called progressives to justify their vote against raising the minimum wage. This legislation, granted, includes an extension of the work opportunity tax credit so that we can encourage more people to move off welfare onto the rolls. It includes extensions of the deduction for higher education expenses and the deduction for teachers for their day- to-day expenses in the classroom. It includes expensing of mine safety equipment. It also improves access to lifesaving vaccines. Mr. Speaker, it also includes an increase in the minimum wage, something they led us to believe that they wanted to see, something that I have been fighting for for years, and they have done nothing to carry any heavy lifting on. Mr. Speaker, the one vote on raising the minimum wage in the House this year is this vote and we are going to take names, and workers are going to be watching. Mr. Speaker, this current minimum wage is an embarrassment. A 40- hour-a-week worker at minimum wage makes just over $10,000. Working families are struggling to make ends meet, to address higher gas prices, to address rising home heating bills. And in the face of all of that, the so-called progressives are finding every imaginable excuse to vote against raising the minimum wage. They have always liked the politics of the minimum wage and generally cared little for the policy of the minimum wage.…”