[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 26 (Thursday, February 9, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H1468]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              MOST AMERICANS FAVOR A MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE

  (Mr. GUTIERREZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. GUTIERREZ. Mr. Speaker, we hear daily updates on the Contract 
With America.
  But my colleagues omit the fact that this contract was built by 
pollsters and consultants. It was designed for easy popularity, not for 
the American people.
  Well, their consultants must have forgotten to ask about minimum 
wage.
  Because when NBC News asked the American people, 78 percent said they 
favored an increase.
  I guess 78 percent of America was not around when our opponents took 
their poll.
  I think I know who they missed.
  They missed the 78 percent who carry around something other than the 
contract in their back pocket.
  They missed the 78 percent who instead carry a lunch pail to their 
work site, who carry their children to day care, who carry a bus token 
so they can get to work, who carry a Medicare card for their health 
care.
  So the next time our Speaker waves around a piece of paper and a hole 
puncher, remember that until we honor the hard work of every person in 
our Nation with a decent, livable minimum wage, all he is waving is an 
exclusive contract with some of America.

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