[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 27, 1995)]
[House]
[Page H9511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               THE RICH GET RICHER AND YOU KNOW THE REST

  (Miss COLLINS of Michigan asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Miss COLLINS of Michigan. Mr. Speaker, I rise to question the 
direction of our economy. A recent study by the Economic Policy 
Institute indicates that although our economic growth has been healthy, 
living standards for the average American family have continued to 
fall. The study suggests that there are two types of inequality that 
have led to the disconnect between economic growth and living 
standards. First, in the 1990's, overall wage growth has been dampened 
by a redistribution of income from labor to owners of capital in the 
form of profits. The report indicates that the economic return to 
capital, has actually reached historically high levels in this country. 
Second, however, the growth of wage inequality that began in the 1980's 
and persisted throughout the 1990's has prevented middle- and low-wage 
earners from achieving higher wages and has forced them to accept 
reductions in their real wages. In addition, of course, earnings have 
failed to keep up with inflation.
  Mr. Speaker, I would suggest to you and the leadership of this House 
that if these trends continue, your make-believe revolution may prompt 
a real revolution and it will not be economic. Have a nice day.

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