Michael Burgess: “I, first, just want to remark that--I think, the last 11 months are the last figures I saw--over the last 11 months wage…”

“I, first, just want to remark that--I think, the last 11 months are the last figures I saw--over the last 11 months wage growth in this country has increased more than at any time in recent memory. Wage growth is a lagging indicator, but it is happening, and that is a good thing, and we should celebrate that. There would be no reason to put the brakes on that that I can see. I think we should be encouraged that that is happening, and I don't think we should be doing things to the economy that would be detrimental and reverse that trend. But let me just say at this point, if we defeat the previous question, Republicans will amend the rule to immediately bring up H.R. 748, the Middle Class Health Benefits Tax Repeal Act, or Cadillac Tax Repeal Act, and include the text of H.R. 1398, the Health Insurance Tax Relief Act, and H.R. 2207, the Protect Medical Innovation Act, or the medical device tax repeal. Legislation in previous Congresses to repeal the Cadillac tax has gathered strong support and brought employers and labor unions together in their efforts to eliminate this tax. Since the Cadillac tax is calculated only based on insurance premiums, it could unfairly target those already struggling with higher healthcare costs and affect middle-income workers, including teachers and nurses, due to the continuing rise of health insurance costs. H.R. 748 would repeal this tax in its entirety.…”