[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 58 (Wednesday, May 1, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H4309]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  MINIMUM WAGE INCREASE MORE IMPORTANT THAN REPEALING GAS TAX OF 1993

  (Mr. VOLKMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. VOLKMER. Mr. Speaker, I stand here today requesting the 
Republican leadership, Newt Gingrich, to schedule the minimum wage bill 
for the House to vote on. I am not here on behalf of any union, I am 
here on behalf of a lot of people in my district and all over this 
Nation that work every day at $4.25 an hour. What do I ask for them? I 
ask we raise that minimum wage in a 2-year cycle for 90 cents. That 
means $1,800 a year more for those people.
  Now, their answer, the Republicans' answer, is no, we are going to 
cut the gas tax 4.5 cents. We will repeal the part of the gas tax that 
was in the 1993 deficit reduction package. Well, how much will that 
give to my people? To most of my people that is $45 year. They want to 
give $45 a year to help my people get through the hard times, buy a 
pair of shoes for the kids.
  I say let us give them the minimum wage. Let us give them really 
something that will benefit them. $1,800 a year is a lot better than 
$45 a year.

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