[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 24 (Tuesday, February 7, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1293]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      A $50,000 A PLATE FUNDRAISER

  (Ms. DeLAURO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, tonight National Empowerment Television, 
the taxpayer-subsidized station which broadcasts Speaker Gingrich's 
college course, is holding a $50,000 a plate fundraiser. But it is the 
Speaker, not the filet mignon, that is the main course.
  This lavish dinner speaks volumes about who Republicans represent. 
They are dining with the elite, at the same time Republicans are 
opposing a minimum wage increase for American workers. A full-time 
minimum wage worker would have to work 5\3/4\ years to buy a seat at 
Mr. Gingrich's table tonight.
  Those lucky enough to have a spare fifty grand to buy a ticket for 
tonight's fundraiser will be rewarded with a nifty $19,800 tax break. 
You see, National Empowerment Television operates as a nonprofit, even 
though it is the only TV station devoted solely to a particular 
political ideology. Like tonight's dinner, this is another example of 
the commingling of politics and special interests that has led to the 
calls for an outside counsel to look into and investigate Mr. 
Gingrich's political and financial dealings.


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