Thomas Daschle: “Not only is it modest but it is overdue. As I noted in my opening comments, it has been 6 years since we passed an…”

“Not only is it modest but it is overdue. As I noted in my opening comments, it has been 6 years since we passed an increase in the minimum wage. During that time, as the Senator's chart illustrates, the minimum wage has dramatically declined. The number of hours people have to work goes up and the real value of the money they receive goes down. More and more people are faced with the prospect of taking two and three jobs in order to climb above that poverty line, at the very time, ironically, when we say that we want work to pay to ensure that they do not go back to welfare. So I compliment the Senator from Massachusetts for his leadership in this effort and, again, reiterate that the moderate increase that he is proposing is one that is in keeping with past precedent here in the Congress; and it certainly recognizes the need to do something this year.”